Deputies warn of reforms at Ennis hospital

Campaigners for the development of Ennis General Hospital say Minister for Health Mary Harney acknowledged at a meeting yesterday that its 24-hour A&E service would be abolished as part of healthcare reforms in the midwest.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said when he pressed the Minister on the issue at the meeting she confirmed that the current round-the-clock, doctor-led emergency service in Ennis would go when a planned new model of care for the region was introduced.

Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said the Minister had said the current emergency service would be replaced by a nurse-led unit operating from 8am to 8pm or midnight. He said she maintained that a population base of 350,000 to 500,000 would be needed to justify a full consultant-led A&E service.

However, a spokesman for the Minister said she had told the delegation of politicians from Co Clare that she could not pre-empt a review group report on hospital services in the midwest which is due shortly.

He said Ms Harney had said the hours of opening for any treatment facility that may emerge from the report would be dictated by activity levels.

The spokesman said there were 58 cases per day treated at the A&E unit at Ennis General Hospital and 75 per cent of them related to minor injuries.

He said Ms Harney told the delegation she accepted that there were "geographical challenges" in relation to accessing services from some parts of Co Clare.

She had pointed out it was envisaged that the ambulance service would be significantly enhanced.

She said increased capital funding had been allocated to Ennis hospital, and she hoped that activity there would increase.

Mr Breen said the "Hanly report was alive and well".