Smyth seeks assurances from Minister Simon Harris that they’ll be no further diminution of services in Cavan
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan Monaghan Niamh Smyth has sought assurances from the Minister for Health Simon Harris regarding the future of the Trauma Unit at Cavan General Hospital, following reports that it’s one of nine hospitals proposed for downgrade.
“I am very concerned about reports over the weekend about the centralisation of specialised emergency departments in larger hospitals. As part of this plan Cavan could lose its Trauma Unit within its Emergency Department.
Deputy Smyth said, “I have received a number of concerned phone calls and messages from my constituents and staff on this issue. Any downgrade of services at Cavan is unacceptable. Staff and the general public need assurances that services will remain as they are, and be enhanced.
“The Department of Health has said there are no plans to close or remove services from emergency departments at hospitals across the country and I know the Minister has said he hasn’t seen the report yet which was commissioned by the previous Minister for Health. In these cases there is no smoke without fire, and I’m not convinced.”
“I have sought clarity on the issue from the Minister for Health Simon Harris and have also tabled a Parliamentary Question for a statement on this matter. I am hopeful it will be raised in the Dáil tomorrow since it affects so many hospitals.”
See response to my Parliamentary Question on this issue – below:
QUESTION NO: 194
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Health (Simon Harris T.D.)
by Deputy Niamh Smyth
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 14/07/2016
* To ask the Minister for Health his views on proposals to remove Trauma Treatment from nine hospitals including Cavan General Hospital and the impact this could have on Emergency Departments. – Niamh Smyth T.D.
REPLY.
I would like to reassure the Deputy that the work underway in developing a policy on a national trauma policy is about getting the best outcomes for a particular, small category of patients who sustain traumatic injuries. It is not about closing Emergency Departments or diminishing services. There are currently no plans to close or remove trauma services from any hospital.
A trauma patient needs access to the best service that has the right resources to match their often multiple and critical needs in the shortest time possible. The aim of developing national policy on trauma networks is to ensure that trauma patients are brought to the right place at the right time for the right care so they can make the best recovery possible. It is about building on the strengths of pre-hospital care, all of our acute hospitals and post-acute services to provide an optimal configuration of trauma services. The implementation of Hospital Groups provides an opportunity for hospitals to work together to enhance trauma services for patients.
The need for a national trauma system has been recognised for many years. In June 2015 the National Clinical Programme for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery published the Model of Care for trauma and orthopaedic surgery and strongly recommended that a national approach to trauma services should be taken. The RCSI (the professional body representing all surgeons and emergency medicine specialists) also called for its establishment at their annual scientific meeting last year.
Last year, the then Minister for Health appointed a National Steering Group to develop policy on a major trauma system for Ireland. This is a joint initiative from the Department of Health and the HSE, developed in recognition that we do not have a coordinated trauma network structure in Ireland.
The Steering Group has been working with the Department of Health, the HSE and all relevant HSE National Clinical Leads including Surgery, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, Critical Care, Orthopaedics and Trauma on the development of the policy. The group has not yet reported, I have not seen any output from this group and the Group’s recommendations are not expected until later this year.
Click here to view PQ answer on Oireachtas.ie