Minister yet to confirm closure date of Navan A&E

As high levels of flu, Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses continue to put health services under extreme pressure, the HSE has confirmed that no date has been set for the closure of the Emergency Department (ED) at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan.

However local paramedics claim that 'virtually no ambulance cases' are being accepted at the Navan hospital.

The first step in the process of closing Navan's ED took place with the new ambulance bypass process which began on the 14th of December. It sees unstable patients who require critical or urgent care bypassing Navan.

According to the HSE, the Navan ED will treat stable medical presentations brought by ambulance.

"Like the majority of Emergency Departments across the country, Our Lady's Hospital is very busy treating patients who present to the Emergency Department with acute respiratory illnesses including Covid 19, Flu and RSV along with other illnesses.

Patients presenting to OLHN arrive by both ambulance and also by continuing to walk in to either the ED or our on-site injury unit," according to a statement this week.

A local public health consultant confirmed “The surge of respiratory illnesses in the community is putting significant pressure on our health services across the region."

The HSE said it continues to closely monitor the impact of the new ambulance protocol.

"The Emergency Department in OLHN Navan is open 24 hours / seven days a week for patients aged 16 and over. The Emergency Department in Navan will treat stable medical presentations brought by ambulance or walk in directly.

"Unstable patients who require critical or urgent care will be brought by ambulance to the nearest Emergency Department which has the expertise on site to deliver best treatment first time.

"The Local Injury Unit on site in OLHN is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, for those over 16 years of age, to deal with minor injuries. This service is walk in and does not require a GP referral to access."

Meanwhile, a national protest against the crisis in Emergency Departments will take place outside hospitals across Ireland at 1pm on the 21st of January. The chairs of hospital campaigns across the country met last night (Monday) to put in place plans for protests outside hospitals across the country.

The chair of the Save Navan Hospital campaign, Deputy Peadar Tóibín said people are shocked and furious over the continuing damage that is being done to our health service.

"The crisis in our A&Es is leading to excess deaths and significantly damaged health of people right around the country.

He said what was really frustrating is that HSE senior management were still wedded to the policy of Emergency Department capacity reduction. "Today, in the middle of the worst A&E overcrowding crisis in the history of the state, the HSE are actively looking to close down Navan A&E. It is mind bending stuff".

Dr Lois O’Connor, Consultant in Public Health Medicine has highlighted the high levels of flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in circulation in the community and is urging the public to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

“The surge of respiratory illnesses in the community is putting significant pressure on our health services across the region. We can reduce this burden by staying at home from work, school and crèche if you are sick, and getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccines.”