Day surgeries have resumed at Ennis General Hospital.
Over 30 patients had general surgical and vascular procedures at Ennis General Hospital deferred earlier this week.
The Clare Echo understands that the disruption in service was due to a significant surge in trauma and emergency cases listed for theatre at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Staff from UL Hospitals Group sites such as Ennis General were redeployed as a result to support the increase in demand.
On Wednesday night, Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) received confirmation from Colette Cowan, CEO of UL Hospitals Group that day surgeries have resumed at Ennis General. “Regardless of the reason, services and staffing levels in Ennis need to be maintained and increased,” he stated.
Kilrush representative, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) flagged the matter at Tuesday’s meeting of the West Clare Municipal District and wrote a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (FF) earlier in the week. He was also critical of the treatment of health professionals who returned home during the pandemic.
He stated, “In the greatest time of need that this country has seen in decades, many health professionals left their roles and new homes to return home to serve on the frontline to protect this nation. While many roles were filled to fight COVID-19, the vast majority of these roles were long overdue and should have been filled long before March 2020. Now as the pandemic panic eases, many of these health professions (have) been informed they are no longer required and left to face the prospects of once again leaving our shores in search of work”.
“People who are sick and have a medical need are being forgotten about, €400m was announced for people who might get sick from the virus and yet we have these people who are sick and they are forgotten about,” Cllr Lynch said. He outlined that Cathal Crowe (FF) and Michael McNamara (IND) were pursuing the matter at a higher level. “It is not right, people of Clare deserve better”.
