By Cliona Connolly
MONAGHAN General Hospital is set to suffer a fatal downgrade with the loss of a further fifty beds and an end to acute care at the local hospital by November it emerged this week.
The draft interim North East Transformation Detailed Planning Report, released this week outlines plans to end acute inpatient care at Monaghan hospital and to transfer all inpatient and critical care to Cavan General Hospital without increasing bed numbers in Cavan. Thereafter, according to the report, Monaghan Hospital will be relegated for use in rehabilitation, respite and day care with a 12 hour minor injuries unit.
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson and Cavan-Monaghan TD, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, slammed the report as ‘A death sentence’ for Monaghan General Hospital and a sentence of hard labour for Cavan General Hospital.
“The plan by the HSE is to finally close Monaghan General Hospital as a hospital and to downgrade it to a Minor Injuries Unit. This must be opposed in the strongest possible manner by the entire community and every elected representative must be called to account. The only appropriate place for this plan is the shredder,” Deputy Ó Caoláin told the Post.
There are currently 3,000 acute medical admissions to Monaghan General Hospital per annum. By the end of November this service will have to be provided by Cavan General Hospital which has already exceeded its capacity by 60 per cent. The report does not provision for any additional beds in Cavan.
Last week’s Post reported that local consultants had issued a warning to the HSE that such a move would create a ‘catastrophic situation’ for patients from which deaths may result. The consultants have now appealed that the HSE holds off on plans until an additional twenty-five beds are provided at Cavan General Hospital.
“This plan is based on the lie that patient care will actually improve after the destruction of Monaghan General Hospital because there will be greater provision of non-acute care, rehabilitation and respite. Yet the report states that additional funding is not available to implement these service changes,” Deputy Ó Caoláin concluded.
Similarly, Local Fine Gael TD Seymour Crawford slammed the report “The fact that at least 17 lives were lost as a result of the last ‘off call’ period for Monaghan General Hospital is clearly of no importance to the management of the North East HSE or to Government members.
“The people of Monaghan have still a few months left to make their voices heard and hopefully force their elected representatives from all parties to defend their rights and guarantee the necessary and safe service in Monaghan General Hospital for the people they were elected to represent,” Deputy Crawford continued.
However, Local Fianna Fail TD Margaret Conlon hit out at comments made on the report and stressed that it is merely a draft “The final Detailed Planning Report is to be issued by the HSE in June or July, and any scaremongering to the contrary is highly irresponsible considering that it is people’s health that is under discussion.”
“Services cannot be removed from Monaghan general Hospital until safer; better alternatives are put in place. The acute medical services cannot be removed from the Hospital until such as time when there are sufficient community services and ambulatory services in place,” Deputy Conlon added.
This news comes as the Monaghan Hospital Alliance calls on local government representative to stand with their constituents at the upcoming Hospital Rally. Alliance Chairman, Peadar McMahon, described HSE intentions as ‘criminal’ to consider putting all acute services and A & E into Drogheda and Cavan.
“The Government representatives from Monaghan have stated that they are against the plans being implemented in Monaghan. It is just not sufficient for our representatives to make statements to the Press expressing their disagreement. They must take sterner action and stand beside us in this campaign,” Mr McMahon urged.
“We are calling on all, who do not want to take the risks involved in travelling to other hospitals in emergencies, to march with us at the Protest Rally. This will likely be the final opportunity for all of us to take a stand before the services are removed so we will make it as spectacular as possible. But the fight will only begin if the services are removed because when the deaths happen we will ensure that compensation is received and those responsible are answerable,” Mr McMahon added.
A spokesperson for the HSE said the document was produced primarily to facilitate engagement and meaningful input, via the partnership process, with staff and unions.
The Monaghan Hospital Alliance rally takes place on Saturday 10 May and will commence at 3pm starting at Hospital Hill, Monaghan Town.
