COULD SLIGO BE THE NEXT ROSCOMMON?
REVIEW COULD CUT EMERGENCY DEPT HOURS
Fears have been expressed that the Emergency Department at Sligo University Hospital could be downgraded to a 12 hour service daily.
It is believed that a review of the Emergency Departments is currently underway by the Saolta group which Sligo University Hospital is part of along with six other hospitals in the West and North West. Senator Marc MacSharry says he is particularly worried about the implications for such a review for Sligo.
“I understand that one of the options being considered is the possibility of reducing ED services to a 12 hour period. This would be disastrous for Sligo and put an even bigger strain on the other hospitals in the region which would have to shore up capacity. The Emergency Department at Sligo University Hospital is an integral part of service provision in this region and any move to cut resources must be avoided at all costs,” he said. The Fianna Fáil General Election candidate added: “Sligo University Hospital serves a population of 260,000 people and is an integral part of the hospital network in the North West. Reduced services are not an option. It is completely unacceptable to have the possibility of reduced Emergency Department services hanging over our heads before the election.
“This Government has presided over an unmitigated disaster in healthcare over the past five years and now it’s planning to slash services at Sligo University Hospital.
“Minister Varadkar must make a statement immediately on the matter so that the people of Sligo and the North West can go to the polls in full knowledge of what is coming down the line”.
At the time of going to press, the Saolta group hadn’t responded to a query on the issue.