Lourdes not able to take on extra load
TRANSFER OF TRAUMA PATIENTS
Wednesday March 10 2010
THE Group General Manager for the Louth/Meath Hospital Group told a local consultant last year that the transfer of trauma from Our Lady's Hospital in Navan would not take place until Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was in a position to take the extra work load, it has been revealed.
In a letter seen by the Drogheda Independent to the consultant last March, Group General Manager Des O'Flynn said that while the transfer of trauma from Navan to Drogheda was part of The Transformation Plan, it would not happen until the Lourdes had the 'capacity and capability to safely take the transfer of Trauma from Navan' before adding 'currently that is not the case'.
He said one of the underpinning tenants of the Transformation Agreement was that services 'cannot and will not move' unless the area that they are moving to is capable of taking this extra workload safely.
'In other words, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda has to have the capacity and capability to safely take the transfer of Trauma from Navan and currently that is not the case.
'Therefore, there will be a requirement to continue with the existing service in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan in the interim.'
The new Emergency Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was due to open on March 3rd and expressions of interest were sought from staff throughout the region interested in moving to the new centre.
However, as a result of ongoing industrial action, staff were instructed by their unions not to apply for redeployment to the new department.
A spokesperson for the HSE said the organisation was 'working closely' with the unions and are hopeful of transferring to the new emergency department 'as soon as possible'.
The spokesperson claimed the issue referred to in the correspondence and the changes to Ambulance Borne Trauma were 'two separate matters'.
' This decision to transfer ambulance borne trauma from Navan to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda was taken in the interest of patient safety and to ensure the best possible outcome for patients. This refers to patients who require major surgical intervention.'
She said no major surgery had taken place in Navan since 2006.
The spokesperson said the planned improvements would have a 'staffing impact' and added the organisation were working within the context of the moratorium to put the required staff in place.
A total of 32 and a half extra staff are sought for the new deparment.
' The redeployment and reconfiguration within existing staffing levels will enable the provision of the additional staff necessary to open the facility,' added the spokesperson.
In other correspondance, Hospital Network Manager for the North East Hospitals Stephen Mulvany noted that he has been advised that the transfer of acute care from Navan is not feasible in the short term and would required a further capital build at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which would take at least three or four years to complete.
- Fiona MAGENNIS
