Monaghan Hospital facing cuts in A&E services
Life-saving accident and emergency services could be cut at Monaghan Hospital as part of proposed cost savings in north eastern health services, it was revealed today.
Radiologists and anaesthetists are among those facing the axe as part of draft plans to re-route emergency ambulances, a leaked memo from the Health Service Executive (HSE) said.
Axed outpatients' clinics and surgeries contained in this year's plan will cause cancelled operations and longer waiting lists, Fine Gael health spokesman James Reilly said.
"These proposals will have a knock-on effect on waiting lists for treatment and waiting times for access," he added.
"They will also see cancellation of elective surgery continue.
"Once again in order to balance its books the HSE is sacrificing patient services while the burgeoning bureaucracy remains untouched."
The number of beds across Monaghan Hospital would be reduced by 10 under the draft plan.
The number of operations at Louth County Hospital will also fall.
The plans envisage cutting elective surgery by 20-25% in the Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and the Cavan/Monaghan hospital group.
The memo also highlights the possibility of reducing out-patient clinics by 20% in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, as well as the Cavan/Monaghan Hospital group.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said: "No decisions have been taken on reducing services in the north east. We are facing a challenging year and we are exploring how best to deliver services within budget.
"We should be in a position by mid-February to be more definitive about the services we will provide for the year."
Downsizing at Monaghan will depend on extra intensive care and accident and emergency services being provided elsewhere.
Recommendations included:
* Reducing the number of orthopaedic (fractures) elective surgeries by a quarter at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan.
* Downscaling elective surgery in Louth County Hospital, including the establishment of a shorter working day.
* Cutting the number of out-patient clinics and limiting elective (pre-planned) surgeries at Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, and Cavan and Monaghan to four days a week.
The changes are designed to save money but would also provide for new medical assessment units at Navan and Drogheda by July.
More home care packages would also be available.
Downsizing at Monaghan will depend on extra intensive care and accident and emergency services being provided elsewhere.
Recommendations included:
* Reducing the number of orthopaedic (fractures) elective surgeries by a quarter at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan.
* Downscaling elective surgery in Louth County Hospital, including the establishment of a shorter working day.
* Cutting the number of out-patient clinics and limiting elective (pre-planned) surgeries at Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, and Cavan and Monaghan to four days a week.
The changes are designed to save money but would also provide for new medical assessment units at Navan and Drogheda by July.
More home care packages would also be provided.
