Alarm and anger at threat to Ennis hospital's status

A warning was issued last night that lives will be lost if proposals contained in the Hanley report are implemented at Ennis General Hospital.

The report recommends a downgrading of the A&E service at Ennis General, with services transferred to Limerick's Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Instead, Ennis General would be reclassified a local hospital and "provide minor and illness injury units".

Secretary of the Ennis General Hospital Development Committee, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) forecast that lives would be lost if the Hanley report is implemented. He said: "It is catastrophic news for Clare."

Mr Arkins's prediction was supported by Dr William O'Brien, who has worked as an anaesthetist at the A&E department over the past 25 years. He said: "If the A&E is downgraded, five or six people would die or suffer irreparable brain damage each year because of the extra distance involved in travelling to Limerick. I've no doubt about it and can provide documentary evidence to prove that." Dr O'Brien was interviewed by personnel involved in drawing up the report.

He said: "Where are they going to get the money to implement the report? It is infuriating that they do not produce a workable blueprint, because what is proposed is Alice in Wonderland stuff."

Already, this week, in anticipation of yesterday's publication a public meeting was held in Ennis on Monday. Mr Arkins said last night that the hospital development committee is to meet later today to draw up a campaign to preserve Ennis General's status.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee was involved in a previous campaign to preserve the hospital's status in 1992. He described the Hanley report's proposals last night as representing "the slow closure of Ennis General by stealth".

"We should be looking to upgrade the hospital, not downgrade it," he said.