HSE to examine moving Cork clinics

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to examine transferring all warfarin clinics from acute hospitals in Cork city to the former St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital in the suburb of Gurranabraher as part of a pledge to develop the site as a major health campus.

Cork area manager for HSE South Ger Reaney confirmed the executive plans to look at transferring warfarin clinics at Cork University Hospital (CUH), the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital to the new campus.

“Our long-term aspiration is to move warfarin clinics out of acute hospitals. The CUH and the South Infirmary Victoria are the ones currently being considered for movement to a community setting. The Mercy is somewhat further down the road in that regard,” he said.

Mr Reaney said some 800-900 people a week attend warfarin clinics at the three hospitals. The clinics compete with other services for space in their current venues whereas the former St Mary’s would offer space and easier access for patients.

Mr Reaney made his comments at Minister for Health James Reilly’s official opening of the Mercy Urgent Care Centre at St Mary’s Health Campus. Dr Reilly said the centre had helped alleviate pressure on the emergency departments at CUH and MUH.

Emergency medicine consultant Dr Gerry McCarthy said that since the urgent care centre opened last March it had treated more than 8,500 patients, with an average turnaround time from registration to discharge of 65 minutes.

The centre treats patients aged over 10 for minor injuries such as suspected broken bones, minor burns, scalds and cuts requiring stitching, which on average account for 40-50 per cent of attendances at emergency departments.

The most common injuries seen at the centre have been to hands and ankles.