Campaigners call for scrapping of Hanley Report
Action groups opposed to the downgrading of local hospital services have called for the controversial Hanley Report to be scrapped by the Government, it emerged today.
The Oireachtas Health Committee today heard submissions on the 2003 blueprint which called for the centralisation of local hospital services.
Medical director of Ballinalsoe’s Portiuncula Hospital, Dr John Barton said people had a right to receive adequate medical treatment within their own communities.
“Looking to the future as our nation gets older, we’re going to need to continue to have these acute care services provided locally.
“People can be well looked after given the appropriate facilities and staff in smaller general hospitals.”
Dr Barton, who admitted to getting emotional on the issue, said of the report: “It’s fundamentally flawed. It’s desperate. It’s not adequately researched.”
He called for the Government to embrace telemedicine technology whereby doctors can discuss patient care via video link.
Independent Clare TD James Breen, who was elected on the Ennis General Hospital issue, called on the committee to recommend to the Health Minister “that the Hanley Report has to be scrapped forthwith.
He added: “We have to maintain our small hospitals as acute medical and surgical units.”
Management consultant David Hanley was originally appointed to help implement the reform of the acute hospital service across the country.
His June 2003 report proposed the downgrading of certain local services and centralisation of the health system.
It also recommended that only larger hospitals should have accident and emergency departments.
Under the second phase of the report, Mr Hanley chaired a group responsible for deciding which hospitals were given which services, but his contract was not renewed by Health Minister Mary Harney earlier this year.
Hanley’s recommendations have led to several local protests and a number of independent candidates were elected on anti-Hanley platforms at the last General Election.
Peadar McNamara of Ennis General Hospital told today’s committee that the Health Department and the authors of the Hanley Report should carry out an inspection of the needs of each local hospital in the country.
“Most of the local hospitals are stretched to the limit and their services couldn’t possibly be shut down,” he said.
Another activist, Dr Tom Nolan said the report called for a reduction in the numbers of non-consultant doctors but the system should be actually producing more medics.
