Orthopaedic unit closure in Navan 'utter nonsense'

A confidential draft document in which health service managers proposed a range of cost-cutting measures, including the possible closure of the orthopaedic unit in Navan, has been met with widespread condemnation. However, the proposals have been called "utter nonsense" by Health Minister James Reilly, who said closing hospitals was not on his agenda. Meanwhile, speculation is increasing that the report - which was commissioned by the HSE into patient safety concerns about the hospital, and which is due shortly - will vindicate the hospital, its surgeons and staff and will recommend a return to elective surgery. In the leaked draft document, cost-cutting measures proposed by health service managers include capping access to immunisation schemes, scaling back services for sexual abuse victims and introducing a waiting list services for pregnant woman. The document, which was sent last week by the HSE Dublin/North-East to the organisation's corporate headquarters warned if it didn't get approval for a new overall blueprint for cost cutting in the region, even more contentious measures, such as the full closure of some hospitals and Navan's orthopaedic unit, would have to be considered. The internal draft report says the Dublin/North-East area is facing a potential deficit for the year of more than €50 million, even when existing cost-saving measures are taken into account. Navan GP Dr Niall Maguire said closing the orthopaedic unit in Navan would be a bad move and its closure would be an indication of a drop in the standard of care for public patients. However, he pointed out that the minister had said he wasn't going to reduce capacity in hospitals and he believed him. Budget issue Dr Maguire said that because of the seriousness of the budget issue, patients would have to accept that services wouldn't be as good, but he said that vaccines could not be rationed and they couldn't limit maternity cover. "We are not a third world country," he said. Deputy Peadar Tóibín warned the closure of the orthopaedic unit would spell the end of the hospital and would be a seriously retrograde step. He urged Minister Reilly to show his authority now to those within the HSE who are still working to reduce services in hospitals. Deputy Tóibín said the Save Navan Hospital campaign would mobilise to prevent any further closures at the hospital. He said that he was hopeful that the minister would meet with the cmapaign within the nexct fortnight, but if not, the campaign would go to the Dail with the 15,000 signatures collected in support of the hospital. He said the idea of cutting services to pregnant woman, infants and sex abuse victims was morally wrong. Deputy Damien English said that rather than services being closed at Navan, he expected to see some services restored over the coming months. He said Minister Reilly was setting up a new special delivery unit which would see more services being provided in public hospitals and less spent on the treatment purchase fund. Deputy English said the report on surgical services in Navan, which is due out shortly, would show the need for increased services in Navan. He said that closing the orthopaedic unit would be a mistake as it is a national asset. The minister said there was no question of a cap being put on vaccinations for children and described the proposals as "just utter nonsense". He said the proposals were clearly the reflections of an individual and are reflective of the seriousness of the situation, but he guaranteed that there would be no interference with any vaccine programme and said closing hospitals was not on his agenda. While some services could be curtailed due to budgetary problems, he said hospitals would not be shut down. A spokesperson the the HSE Dublin/North-East said the report was clearly labelled as draft and should be treated as such. She said the draft document was very much part of a deliberative process, which is ongoing. She said it referred to a significant volume of work which is underway to ensure HSE Dublin/North-East delivers on the level of services it is committed to in 2011, while remaining within the budget available. "The proposals put forward in this draft document have not been approved by the HSE and require further consideration and impact assessment before any decisions are taken. "There are a number of other measures in the cost containment plan which refer to closure of hospital services. The document makes clear that these three options are not being proposed, even in the draft document; rather they are designed to illustrate the scale of the fiscal challenge faced in Dublin/North-East," she said.