Sherlock demands ‘absolute certainty’ on future of MGH
‘JUST BECAUSE IT IS THERE, IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT IT WILL ALWAYS BE THERE’
THE situation at Mallow General Hospital in relation to COVID-19 remained clouded this week after a spokesperson for the facility said there were currently just “a small number of staff off work” due Coronavirus related issues.
This after Cork East Labour TD Seán Sherlock last week said answers needed to be given as to why up to 100 staff at the facility had been off work with COVID-19 related issues.
This was confirmed in a letter to Deputy Sherlock from Gerry O’Dwyer, the CEO of the South/ South West Hospital Group (S/ SWHG), who said that since the end of March MGH had been managing a COVID-19 outbreak which had “affected both patients and staff ” at the hospital.
“To meet the care needs of patients during the last number of weeks and in order to maintain the infection prevention and control measures, an increase in staff levels was required. This proved challenging as at the peak of the outbreak up to 100 staff were affected,” he wrote.
It should be pointed out that this does not mean all of these had contracted the Coronavirus, as staff who had been in close contact with other staff members or patients with COVID-19 would have been required to quarantine for 14 days.
Mr O’Dwyer said that as of April 30 there were seven patients in the hospital, all of whom were in isolation.
He went on to write that while the Injury and Medical Assessment Units at the hospital have now reopened, the number of those attending at one time had been limited to ensure social distancing.
He moved to further assuage concerns expressed by Deputy Sherlock about the possibility of MGH being downgraded or even closed, saying its outpatient service had not been moved to the Mallow Primary Health Care Centre and there were no plans to close the outpatient department at the hospital.
“The S/SWHG are committed to ensuring MGH continues to develop services locally and to support this growth have provided funding for the upgrading and refurbishing of infrastructure and facilities within the hospital,” wrote Mr O’Dwyer.
“There are no plans by the S/SWHG to close MGH, which provides essential services to the people of North Cork and the surrounding areas,” he concluded.
While Deputy Sherlock welcomed the commitment given by Mr O’Dwyer to the long-term future of the hospital, he took issue with a statement issued through an external communications company for MGH, which he said contradicted Mr O’Dwyer’s letter to him about the number of staff off work with COVID-19 related issues.
The statement said S/SWHG “can confirm that MGH is a COVID-19 free hospital” and that there were currently “a small number of staff off work due to their status as vulnerable health workers.”
“It is clear there is still a communications issue in relation to Mallow General Hospital. While I am taking the word of the CEO in good faith, further questions arise from the external communications service, where the picture they portray of the situation at the hospital contradicts the CEOs letter to me,” said Deputy Sherlock.
This has prompted him to reiterate his demands for “absolute certainty” about the future status of Mallow General Hospital.
“There is never a cast iron guarantee about MGH, which is why I will always remain vigilant about its future. In the current crisis if activity levels fall to a critical point, the ability to retain staff like consultants will always remain a risk,” said the Mallow-based TD.
“Just because it is there, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it will always be there. I don’t want it to fall foul of possible health cuts and will oppose any such cuts to services at MGH, which is why I will continue seeking clarity and assurances. I make no apology for that.”