SINN Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has described as “a disgrace” cuts announced yesterday (Wednesday) in the Regional Orthopaedic Unit serving Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath.
The HSE has announced that from Monday 6 October the orthopaedic theatres in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan will not be in use on Wednesdays and Fridays and the Orthopaedic Department will close from 12 December 2008-31 December.
Deputy Ó Caoláin said: “These cuts to a key service for an entire region of the country are a disgrace. People throughout Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath will be affected by the reduction in orthopaedic services, especially the elderly. The knock-on effect will be pain for many individual patients and longer waiting lists going into 2009.
“Once again the North East region experiences cuts first and worst. I exposed how the HSE is to effectively close down most services in Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan General Hospital for two two-week periods in October/November and December/January.”