A&E to close at night/Protest Friday 24th

Mc Love

A FUNDING CRISIS in the HSE could force the country’s second busiest hospital emergency department to close from 8pm at night from 11 July according to a report today.

The Sunday Business Post reports that as well as the impending nightly closure of the emergency department at Limerick Mid-Western Regional Hospital, management at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth have warned of a drastic reduction in the number of services it could offer.

The potential cuts are a result of the “chronic shortage” of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHD) who are due to take up new contracts on 11 July. The HSE has recruited just 40 per cent of NCHD posts required to man the department at Limerick Mid-Western.

There has already been considerable anger expressed at the impending closure of the A&E department at St. Columcilles’s Hospital in Loughlinstown in Co Dublin which dealt with 21,000 cases last year.

There were also reports on Friday that the A&E at Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, Co Laois will be forced to close at 10pm each night because of the shortages in the health service.

The HSE has said it is working with the Medical Council and others to find a solution to the crisis which it says it is well aware of, according to the Business Post.

http://www.thejournal.ie/health-cuts-could-hit-aes-in-limerick-and-drogheda-158867-Jun2011/

Fvckin Disgrace if this happens!

liammur

Mc Love wrote: »

Fvckin Disgrace if this happens!

Unbelievable.

SarahBeep!

First they take away St.Johns, now this?! Nice to know if I'm ever in trouble there's nowhere to go :mad::mad::mad:

Melion

Wow, thats ****in ridiculous

Kess73

So the A&E at John's gets closed, and the same happened in Clare with folk there being diverted to the Regional.


And now they want to close the Regional one at night as well?


So is it to become that whether you are from Kilrush, Foynes, Limerick city or Ennis, if you have something happen to you at night you have to make your way down to Cork and hope that you survive long enough to get there?

lasno

I would guess that this will not be allowed to happen. If it comes to pass then its criminal to leave such a large population centre without A & E cover during the night.

the drifter

Can never happen with the catchment area of the regional A&E. paper talks....

Kess73

the drifter wrote: »

Can never happen with the catchment area of the regional A&E. paper talks....

Now whilst what you are saying should make perfect sense, I would put nothing past logic, common sense and people's lives being ignored and it actually happening.

concussion

Straight to CUH so? Only an extra 2 hours when you're dying.

limklad

concussion wrote: »

Straight to CUH so? Only an extra 2 hours when you're dying.

Two Hours driving and You in Dublin with the Motorway from Limerick.

bullets

Had to look twice at that story!
Cant seeing it happening! fingers crossed I hope its not true.

It would look pretty bad to see a critical service like this closed
down at night when only a few feet away they are building a new wing.

~B

Skintwin

That is completely ridiculous. The emergency department in the regional is in demand most at night, especially since the closure of St. Johns. They are taking away a vitally needed service for two counties, and hoping that people survive long enough to get to Cork to be treated. This country has gine to the dogs.

littlemis

Hopefully it's just talk.If not it will be interesting to see the amount of law suits the hse will be involved in after the first few tragedies.:(

mikemac

It's not enough that Tipp North and Clare were stripped of their services and we now on rely on Limerick Regional but now that's been cut too.

The smaller hospitals are not expecting fantastic services for everthing but a basic A&E in a large geographical area surely makes sense.
They can be transferred to the Regional once stabilized

Madness and this makes it even worse

nursextreme

the drifter wrote: »

Can never happen with the catchment area of the regional A&E. paper talks....

It looks like another diversion, if they threaten A and E we might not complain about the overall shape of the Health Service in the region.

Itsdacraic

I think this story is just a kite being flown by one of the sides involved in an on going dispute between the HSE, Department of Health, Consultants and NCHD's

kilburn

It will never happen, just a stick for someone to beat someone else with in their negotiations

Janet1986

If this happens, all those people out there paying €3,000 between an EMT course and truck lessons can forget about ever getting into the Ambulance service here. :mad:

touts

I wouldn't put anything past the HSE. We are mere numbers on an accountant's spreadsheet and if the spreadsheet says we must die then we must die.

TestTransmission

I really can't imagine this happening,sounds like scaremongering.

Freiheit

For it even to be a possibility is incredible...I think people should take to the streets in peaceful protest:mad::mad::mad::mad:

the drifter

http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2011/0620/ireland/limerick-ae-may-have-to-close-at-night-509689.html

oh dear

the drifter

Question..will this only be for walking...what happens with ambulances? i mean if in in an RTA and im critical surely i wont have to go to Galway?

Bicycle

IF it does happen, it will be absolutely disgraceful.

+1 for peaceful protests.

emarfrog

This is absolutely terrifying stuff. What about those poor people in North Tipp/Nenagh direction that were told to divert to Limerick when night cover A&E in Nenagh was closed? :mad:

+ 1 on the peaceful protest

kilburn

Everyone take a chill pill, its never going to happen. Minister for Finance is from Limerick and Jan is there too wont happen. And never would happen on Willie O'Deas watch !

Conor Bourke

the drifter wrote: »

Question..will this only be for walking...what happens with ambulances? i mean if in in an RTA and im critical surely i wont have to go to Galway?

The ambulance will go wherever ambulance control directs them to go. Even if there was an RTA in the city centre , if there is no ED facility open in the Regional then the ambulance will be directed elsewhere. No good bringing you to the Regional if there's nobody there to treat you.

I used to work in a community hospital which had an attached ambulance base but it had it's small emergency dept closed about 10 years ago. You'd think if there were an RTA outside the front door they'd just bring them in to us but no, they had to make the trip to the nearest General Hospital, over 20 miles away on one of the most dangerous stretches or road in the country, on which an ambulance can only saf
ely do about 50 MPH max speed. Scary. I'd love to know if lives could've been saved by having kept that ED open, but it's one of many that were shut at that time.

kilburn

Alaskimo-cake wrote: »

The ambulance will go wherever ambulance control directs them to go. Even if there was an RTA in the city centre , if there is no ED facility open in the Regional then the ambulance will be directed elsewhere. No good bringing you to the Regional if there's nobody there to treat you.

I used to work in a community hospital which had an attached ambulance base but it had it's small emergency dept closed about 10 years ago. You'd think if there were an RTA outside the front door they'd just bring them in to us but no, they had to make the trip to the nearest General Hospital, over 20 miles away on one of the most dangerous stretches or road in the country, on which an ambulance can only saf
ely do about 50 MPH max speed. Scary. I'd love to know if lives could've been saved by having kept that ED open, but it's one of many that were shut at that time.

Ambulance actually goes to the nearest hospital with an a&e not where ambulance control says.

Berty

This is a soft delivery of bad news is all.

We are being tested with this information so that when we are given a stealth tax of increased emergency department fees / day fees that we will just say "ah well, at least they didn't close the doors"

They have a duty of care. The EU will not allow them to close down a REGIONAL hospital of this magnitude for the entire night and "they" know it.

phill106

cant happen, they closed a+e's in clare, tipp and limerick so they would all go to the regional instead. it will not happen.

kilburn

They were flying the redeployment in the mid west region kite today which is probably code for we are going to close the a&e in St Johns during the day and move those doctors to the regional

Conor Bourke

kilburn wrote: »

They were flying the redeployment in the mid west region kite today which is probably code for we are going to close the a&e in St Johns during the day and move those doctors to the regional

Yeah I reckon that's what's gonna happen. It makes more sense tbh.

Berty

They were discussing this on Live95fm today and a guy came on the phone suggesting that they forget all about the Regeneration programme and put the money into the Regional.

The text system and phones went bananas.

touts

Beer Baron wrote: »

This is a soft delivery of bad news is all.

We are being tested with this information so that when we are given a stealth tax of increased emergency department fees / day fees that we will just say "ah well, at least they didn't close the doors"

They have a duty of care. The EU will not allow them to close down a REGIONAL hospital of this magnitude for the entire night and "they" know it.

The EU dont give a ****e about little hospitals in Ireland. If you are waiting for the EU to save us you'll be like a man caught upstairs in a burning house watching your neighbours rush in to steal your TV.

the drifter

Beer Baron wrote: »

They were discussing this on Live95fm today and a guy came on the phone suggesting that they forget all about the Regeneration programme and put the money into the Regional.

The text system and phones went bananas.

or the money put aside to change the roxboro interchange...or one of multiple other pointless schemes thats ongoing..

whatdoicare

the drifter wrote: »

the roxboro interchange.

The what now?

Grizzly 45

This will be really fun if there is ever a major disaster in the Midwest region.Like a plane crash in Shannon or a major industrial accident.

OR it is a plan to get the private hospitals around up and running too.Break a leg..Cash or credit card??? before treatment,ala the Canadian system,as they take as long as the Irish before a doc sees you,after you have paid as well!!:mad::mad:


Am amazed WTF no one suggests setting up a couple of "triage stations" around the Midwest.IOW you arrive at basically a field hospital,where a doctor decides on the situation,and divides you off into Will live ,needs attention ,but can be done here,and OH FK,get them medvaced to the whatever open hospital in ,proably Belfast the way things are going.:rolleyes:



BTW the "new wing" in the Regional is apprently a multistory car park!!:(:mad:

We live in Intresting times..:eek:

the drifter

whatdoicare wrote: »

The what now?

Sorry Roxborough! stupid phone

whatdoicare

the drifter wrote: »

Sorry Roxborough! stupid phone

haha I figured that one but what work is going on there? I live near there and didn't know it was pegged for useless funding?

445279.ie

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

This will be really fun if there is ever a major disaster in the Midwest region.Like a plane crash in Shannon or a major industrial accident.

Good point. I wonder have they thought of that scenario

Sierra Oscar

kilburn wrote: »

Ambulance actually goes to the nearest hospital with an a&e not where ambulance control says.

If the staffing levels in the A&E in the Regional go below a safe level then the unit will close, simple as. The ambulance can try going to the regional if it wants but the unit will be closed.

BravoMike

It is a scary prospect to think that an A&E department that services Clare, North Tipp, Limerick city and county could be made a 12 hour service. Are the people in charge happy in the knowledge that they are putting many lives at risk? Another side to this is if the A&E department closes and ambulances are sent to Cork and Galway are there going to be other ambulances brought in to cover the 999 calls.
I suppose it’s a time to be proactive and send a letter or email to the following addresses, I'll be sending one and getting as many people to do the same.

Dr. James Reilly,
Minister for Health,
Department of Health,
Hawkins House,
Dublin 2

or

minister's_office@health.irlgov.ie

Amazotheamazing

445279.ie wrote: »

Good point. I wonder have they thought of that scenario

A major disaster like that would lead to emergency plans being put in place and calling in off duty staff etc so it's not really comparable.

What is comparable is it's already too busy so it's absolute madness to close it. I'd be surprised if Cork or Galway are operating a such undercapacity that they could take extra numbers.

Conor Bourke

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

A major disaster like that would lead to emergency plans being put in place and calling in off duty staff etc so it's not really comparable.

What is comparable is it's already too busy so it's absolute madness to close it. I'd be surprised if Cork or Galway are operating a such undercapacity that they could take extra numbers.

I can't speak for Cork as I'm not sure how they're fixed down there but Galway is at the pin of it's collar, frequently tops the INMO trolley count

zuroph

I bet its not going to happen.

DundalkDuffman

Kess73 wrote: »

So the A&E at John's gets closed, and the same happened in Clare with folk there being diverted to the Regional.


And now they want to close the Regional one at night as well?


So is it to become that whether you are from Kilrush, Foynes, Limerick city or Ennis, if you have something happen to you at night you have to make your way down to Cork and hope that you survive long enough to get there?

the drifter wrote: »

Can never happen with the catchment area of the regional A&E. paper talks....

Skintwin wrote: »

That is completely ridiculous. The emergency department in the regional is in demand most at night, especially since the closure of St. Johns. They are taking away a vitally needed service for two counties, and hoping that people survive long enough to get to Cork to be treated. This country has gine to the dogs.

TestTransmission wrote: »

I really can't imagine this happening,sounds like scaremongering.

I wouldn't be so quick to discount it, it is a carbon copy of what has happened in Louth. Dundalk A&E becomes a 12 hour minor injuries unit for a "Centre of Excellence" brand new A&E in Drogheda which now can't cope. Funny that, taking the load off Dundalk (population 35,000) and adding it to Drogheda (population 36,000) didn't work, no one saw that coming.

zuroph

DundalkDuffman wrote: »

I wouldn't be so quick to discount it, it is a carbon copy of what has happened in Louth. Dundalk A&E becomes a 12 hour minor injuries unit for a "Centre of Excellence" brand new A&E in Drogheda which now can't cope. Funny that, taking the load off Dundalk (population 35,000) and adding it to Drogheda (population 36,000) didn't work, no one saw that coming.

Its a bit of a bigger area than dundalk and drogheda. Not very similar at all.

445279.ie

zuroph wrote: »

I bet its not going to happen.

I hope you're right.

But with what's gone on in this country in recent times, nothing would surprise me

kilburn

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

If the staffing levels in the A&E in the Regional go below a safe level then the unit will close, simple as. The ambulance can try going to the regional if it wants but the unit will be closed.

Staffing levels wont go below safe levels, you people are all scare mongering !

Ambulance point I mad is correct the ambulance will go to the nearest a&e department obviously one thats open.

Dr O"Reilly stated clearly last night that the major hospitals will be ok and that its the rural hospitals that will have the problem.

Dont be comparing Limerick Regional to Dundalk and Drogheda, they cater for what you said 76,000 ish while the Mid West regional caters for a catchement area of approx 300,000

Sierra Oscar

kilburn wrote: »

Staffing levels wont go below safe levels, you people are all scare mongering !

I don't believe the staffing levels in the regional will go below safe levels myself - but the fact is that there is a shortage of 400 junior doctors in the HSE and those posts are not likely to be filled in full any time soon.

Minister Reilly already indicated last night on the Frontline that the regional would not loose its 24 hour A&E service. However at the same time he admitted that there was a severe problem in the HSE and this was about to come to a head. He warned people to expect other services to be downgraded.

I would imagine that complete closure of the likes of Nenagh A&E is on the cards.

DundalkDuffman

zuroph wrote: »

Its a bit of a bigger area than dundalk and drogheda. Not very similar at all.

You can't see the similarity between closing an A&E for another one and then cut the services there?