Confusion over possible return of some surgery to Our Lady’s

The Save Navan Hospital campaign believes that some surgical services will be restored at the hospital shortly, although this has been denied by the HSE. Campaigners say that, in a letter to surgeons working at Our Lady's, the HSE has stated that surgery will return to the hospital in the near future. No date has been given and details on whether this would involve acute surgery services are not clear. According to the Save Navan Hospital Campaign chairperson, Cllr Peadar Tóibín: “If these reports are confirmed, it will be a significant step forward for our campaign. It will mean that a considerable portion of our objectives will have been achieved.â€. He added: “We will, however, remain extremely vigilant in case this is a Government/HSE smokescreen. We know this Government is teetering on the edge and we will ensure that either they or the new minister for health will return surgery services. There are also many other outstanding issues and this campaign will continue until all of these are resolved. But, for now, if these reports are true, it's a good day for people power in Meath.†A statement issued by the HSE denied there were plans to immediately restore surgical services in Navan. “The Transformation Programme had always included plans to create a single department of surgery operating across the three hospital sites with acute and emergency surgery being delivered in Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, and elective, day case surgery being carried out in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Louth County Hospital. The model for future surgical provision within Louth-Meath is contingent on a number of factors,†according to the statement. Cllr Tóibín pointed out that the Save Navan Hospital Campaign organised one of the largest community mobilisations ever seen in Meath at the end of October. “Over the last two months, 15,000 people have signed the petition, 7,500 people have joined the Facebook campaign and, significantly, between 10,000 and 15,000 people marched on the streets of Navan to in support of vital services in Our Lady's Hospital. “I want to thank all the people of Meath for their support. I want to assure them that we will remain cautious with regards these latest promises. “We will not take the foot off the campaign accelerator until we see these services returned, along with the safeguarding of our A&E, the psychiatric ward and infirmary capacity in the county. This campaign will continue until the new regional hospital is built in Navan.†He said the campaign would be holding a meeting with the HSE and Minister Harney in the coming weeks to tease out the veracity of these reports. Cllr Tóibín urged campaign members to attend the the Irish Congress of Trade Unions day of action this Saturday in Dublin under the Save Navan Hospital banner. “We will also mobilise hundreds of people from across the county to attend a rally in support of Navan Hospital outside Leinster House on 15th of December at 2pm,†he said.