Figures show mortality rate

THE second Annual Report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System reveals some disturbing information about immunisation levels in Louth and mortality and surgery rates in Our Lady of Lourdes.

According to the NHQRS a heart attack is one of the leading causes of death. The trend shows an overall reduction within 30 days of admission from a high of 9.3 deaths per 100 in 2006 to 6.0 deaths per 100 cases in 2015. In the Lourdes, the rate is at 6.22 deaths per 100.

In-hospital mortality from a haemorrhagic stroke within 30 days of admission is also a cause of worry. In 2013 the average in-hospital mortality rate within 30 days of admission with haemorrhagic stroke was 24.6 per 100 cases. This is higher than the OECD average of 22.6 deaths per 100. In Our Lady of Lourdes, the in-hospital mortality rate is higher again at 26.64 per 100.

The report also reveals that Louth is among the worst counties for immunisation rates for mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) diseases. The target for immunisation across the state is 95%. The current rate stands at 93% but Louth lags behind on between 89-90%.

According to the NHQRS report the target is to have 95% of children immunised. The uptake rates for children at 24 months across the State for 2014-15 is 88%. But Louth is behing with between 80-81% of children immunized at 24 months.

The mortality rates point to how the Lourdes is ‘ the stiletto heel’ of the HSE, according to health forum member, Cllr. Tomas Sharkey, who added the stripping of emergency services in the Louth Hospital in Dundalk six years ago had a knock-on effect on what was happening in Drogheda.

He said: ‘ This report shows how the mortality rate in the Lourdes is a good bit higher than the national average. Of course it is because we have people coming from as far away as Cooley in ambulances that have already been delayed and going into wards where there isn’t even room for trolleys.

‘ The Lourdes is like the stiletto heel of the HSE - all the pressure is going into one area - extra beds and nurses can’t be fitted into the Lourdes at this stage. The cause is simple - it’s the closure of the acute medical services in Dundalk and reductions in services in other places around the North East.

‘ This month marks the sixth anniversary of the closure of emergency services in Dundalk. The report shows the evidence that we now need to beef up coronary care and the recent cut at the Louth should be reversed.

‘ Too many people have died waiting for ambulances or arriving in Drogheda after long ambulance trips and there have been adverse outcomes because of the long waits in the ED and overcrowded surgical and medical wards in Drogheda’.

And Cllr. Sharkey also pointed to the fact that a long-promised second primary care centre earmarked for Dundalk years ago remains not built and this too is leading to people not getting much-needed preventative medicine and early-stage intervention in their healthcare.

‘It’s frustrating to see these mortality figures. It’s time patients were listened to’.