Public anger over downgrading of stroke unit at Navan Hospital

Plans to mobilise a street march to protest against the HSE directive not to treat stroke patients at Navan Hospital as well as doubts over the future of its A&E services may be scuppered by the threat of the coronavirus.

The meeting of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan tonight (Wednesday 4th), the second in as many weeks, was told there is "no shadow of a doubt that Our Lady's Hospital is in radical, critical jeopardy" with demands heard for Dr Gerry McEntee, Clinical Lead at Navan Hospital to meet campaigners and explain the rationale behind the recent HSE directive to divert stroke patients from Navan to Dublin (Mater), Cavan, Mullingar and Drogheda hospitals for treatment. 

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Peadar Toibin with newly-elected TD Johnny Guirke in attendance along with Sinn Fein colleague and newly co-opted county councillor Michael Gallagher. There was anger directed from the floor to Meath's four TDs who were not present. 

Deputy Toibin told the meeting that the HSE explanations comparing Navan and the Mater Hospital - a centre of excellence for stroke patients - didn't make sense as there were never any comparisons made with Cavan, Mullingar and Drogheda hospitals where stroke patients are also allowed to be taken. He said the directive, which came into effect last month made no sense for stroke patients in Athboy, Oldcastle or Trim who could face up to a critical hour being transferred to hospital.

Speaking on radio this week, Dr Gerry McEntee claimed the National Clincical Programme for Stroke found that Our Lady's Hospital in Navan wasn't providing stroke patients with "the best opportunity for the best possible outcome". Dr McEntee said the decision was taken in the interests of patient safety. This was rejected by Deputy Toibin who said patient safety was always used by HSE bosses to legitimise persistent underfunding and resourcing of the hospital. 

Plans to mobilise protests to highlight the situation at Navan Hospital are being affected by the ongoing threat of the coronavirus and it was accepted that a worsening of the situation would prevent any mass gathering in the coming weeks.

County councillors meeting on Monday discussed an emergency motion tabled by Aontú’s Cllr Emer Tóibín calling on the health authority to reverse its directive.

Cllr Tóibín reminded councillors on Monday that back in February 2011 Fine Gael had pledged in a pre-election promise to build a new regional hospital for the North East within five years if its party was to form the next government. She said that, two elections on, the people of Meath were no further on.

“Patient safety has been the default justification of every attempt by the HSE to downgrade our much-needed hospital – paediatric services gone, maternity services gone, psychiatry services gone and now stroke services gone”.

She said that Navan Hospital’s stroke services had had excellent outcomes up to now – it was “anyone’s guess” as to what was behind this latest decision on stroke patients.
“God help any stroke victim/patient for whom time is utterly critical who now has to endure a further 60-90 minute journey (bypassing Navan hospital) before receiving possible life-saving treatment outside the county when we are more than capable of providing it within it”, Cllr Tóibín said.

She said that Aontu TD Peadar Tóibín, in a meeting with Mary Day, chief executive of the Ireland East Hospital Group, had put questions about the HSE’s commitment to the continuance of A&E services in Navan but claimed she was unable to give a clear cut answer.

Independent Cllr Francis Deane said that in 2010 former Health Minister James Reilly had said that Navan hospital would never be downgraded until a new regional hospital was built. He said he was disappointed in Fine Gael and he was giving his full support to Cllr Tóibín’s motion. It was a fact that Drogheda and Blanchardstown hospitals could not cope with extra patients.

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said he was extremely disappointed in what had happened Navan hospital over the years while independent Cllr Nick Killian said that what was happening Navan hospital was “death by a thousand knives”. 
He instanced the case of a young relative of his whose life had been saved by being brought to the hospital. Cllr Tóibín’s emergency motion was agreed unanimously by the council.