| HSE fail to replace full-time surgeons |
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| Tuesday, 19 August 2008 21:33 | |
 THE Health Service Executives failure to replace retired surgeons at Ennis General Hospital has raised fresh concerns over the downgrading of the hospital.Mr Gerry Byrnes and Mr Denis O Ceallaigh, two of the longest serving consultants at the hospital, recently retired from their senior positions at the Ennis Hospital. Asked if the HSE plan to replace them with two full-time surgeons or with locum surgeons who will be shared with other hospitals, a spokeswoman said they had been replaced by locum consultants who work exclusively at Ennis General. One of the locums is understood to be on a long-term contract and Green Party county councillor Brian Meaney has expressed unease with the situation given that the HSE has initiated a review of surgical services. ÒIt seems we won't just be battling for A and E but also for surgery. If the hospital cannot retain surgery, it will effectively kill off the A and E, because you wonÕt have access to all acute facilities, he said Ennis Hospital Development Committee chairman Ciaran O Dea said the refusal of the HSE to replace retiring consultants with permanent appointments was further evidence, if any was needed, that the HSE will continue to undermine the future operational feasibility of Ennis Hospital. ÒMary Harney's stated strategy for the hospital is to remove 24-hour A and E status. One would have to wonder if there is a level of suffering or Òacceptable losses which the HSE will tolerate in the apparent drive to reduce services in Ennis to minor injury and day care treatment. ÒThe continuing delays in upgrading the hospital, the recent Ennis bypass ambulance protocol, staffing embargos and the failure to replace consultants or provide staff for a CT scanner are all issues that lead one to wonder how many more will suffer before the HSE decide that Clare people deserve a properly resourced hospital and health service. ÒIt is increasingly obvious that a new approach is needed to combat the pressures to centralise services and population. ÒIt is unacceptable to the people of this county that our lives and the lives of our loved ones will be sacrificed for an ineffective, inefficient unaccountable national body and political system, which seems to disregard councillors and TDs alike, as has happened with other issues such as Shannon Airport, Mr O'Dea concluded. |