Reduced service at Monaghan hospital

The minor injuries unit at Monaghan General Hospital is to close at evenings and weekends from November 1st, the Health Service…

The minor injuries unit at Monaghan General Hospital is to close at evenings and weekends from November 1st, the Health Service Executive has announced.

The executive said yesterday that the decision was made as part of “cost- containment measures” to ensure the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group remained within its budget for 2011.

Patients with minor injuries after 5pm on weekdays or at weekends are being advised to contact the North East Doctor on Call service or to visit the unit between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

The measure is a “temporary” one which is “necessary now but will be reviewed in light of budgetary considerations and patient activity levels in the future,” the executive said.