No SUH Cath Lab extra days
CATH Lab Services will not be extended at Sligo University Hospital from its present two days a week, a meeting of the Regional Health Forum was told.
Councillor Dara Mulvey had asked for an update on the provision of a Cardiac Catheterisation unit at the hospital.
“This service is much needed in light of the helicopter (weather permitting) or road time travel to Galway.
“Where a complete blockage occurs a patient is fast tracked for transfer to University College Hospital Galway but as treatment is recommended within 90 minutes, time is of vital importance,” said Cllr Mulvey.
Cllr Mulvey was informed that SUH continued to operate a fixed Cath Lab on a weekly basis and now ran the service up to two days per week.
No decision had been made in relation to further expansion of Cath Lab Services in Sligo, pending the outcome of the National Cardiology Review commissioned by the Minister of Health.
Meanwhile, those recovering from COVID-19, will not be automatically entitled to a medical card, Cllr Mulvey was told.
He said many people will need ongoing medical supervision and rehabilitation during the recovery process.
Medical Card eligibility, he was informed by Jane Regan, National Medical Card Unit, was primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular medical condition.
As part of the application process for Medical Card eligibility, applicants are invited to provide comprehensive information in relation to the costs associated with any illness and the care needs of the applicant and/or any dependants.
In the event that an applicant’s means are above the financial threshold for the grant of Medical Card eligibility, other factors outlined in the application in relation to the burden of illness are taken into consideration and eligibility may be granted where it is deemed appropriate to exercise discretion because of the undue burden on the applicant and/or any dependants.