Medics fear further downgrade imminent at hospital

Uncertainty over the future of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan continues to grow as campaigners prepare to meet Health Minister Dr James Reilly next Wednesday. Fears have been expressed by senior medics that the emergency department (ED) in Navan may be reduced to a 12-hour service and that medical services at the hospital are under threat. Local doctors and campaigners are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the junior doctor changeover next week as the HSE struggles to recruit non-consultant hospital doctors to fill vacancies which will arise next Tuesday when trainee doctors move to their next rotation. Concern has been expressed by medical staff in the county that ED services in Navan could shortly be reduced to a 12-hour service only, while the HSE has confirmed that consideration of HIQA reports into Mallow and Ennis Hospitals will give rise to changes in the role of smaller hospitals in the interests of patient safety. Meanwhile, a major row has erupted over the Save Navan Hospital Campaign when Deputy Regina Doherty called on chairman, Deputy Peadar Tóibín, to resign, accusing him of scaremongering. However, Deputy Tóibín said he would not be resigning and was fully committed to the fight for Navan Hospital. He received the backing of campaign member, Dr Ruairi Hanley, who said Deputy Toibín was not engaging in "scaremongering" but had correctly highlighted the concerns of doctors regarding the ongoing threat to the retention of services in Our Lady's Hospital. As the uncertainty continues, family doctors and surgeons are meeting tonight (Wednesday) to discuss the future of the hospital and the Save Navan Hospital campaign will meet tomorrow night at 8.30pm in the Newgrange Hotel, Navan. Deputy Tóibín said this week that senior medical professionals in the county had told him the situation was critical for the ED in Navan and that the HSE may use the shortage of junior doctors as a reason to reduce emergency services in Navan. Local GP, Dr Niall Maguire, said medical staff at the hospital are concerned that the failure of the HSE to appoint new consultants to the hospital was putting medical services under significant threat. "In 2008, the HSE said it would be recruiting two additional consultants for Navan - one for the diabetic clinic and a rheumatologist, but this has not been done and poses a significant threat to medical services in Navan," he said. A spokesperson for the HSE said no decision has been taken with regard to services in Our Lady's. She said the HSE continues to work towards the full implementation of the HIQA Report into Ennis Hospital and further recommendations arising from HIQA's Mallow Report and the implementation of these reports would ultimately give rise to changes in the role of smaller hospitals. She said all hospitals have developed contingency plans to deal with any potential shortfall in junior doctors; however, these proposals are subject to further consideration in what remains an evolving situation. Meanwhile, Deputy Regina Doherty wrote to Deputy Tobin this week to ask him to step down as chairperson of Save Navan Hospital campaign for the sake of the integrity of the group. She said she was very disappointed by the Sinn Fein deputy's scaremongering tactics and emotive language and said some people believed the campaign had been highjacked as a political platform with which to fight the last election. She said it was disingenuous to go on radio and release statements claiming one thing, when you know the reality is different. Deputy Tóibín said he had been very much heartened by the number of people who had phoned him and called to his house giving him their support since Deputy Doherty's attack. "Local people from all political backgrounds and none have asked me to stick with the campaign. I am very disappointed that Deputy Regina Doherty has attacked the hospital campaign in this manner. Her actions are in direct contrast to other Fine Gael deputies who have been very helpful to the campaign," he said. Dr Ruairi Hanley, a former member of the Progressive Democrats who has been involved with the Save Navan Hospital campaign for almost a year, said Peadar Toibin had his full support as chairman. "He is an excellent chairman, who has been both fair and decisive. He also has an excellent understanding of complex medico-political issues, a fact which sets him apart from the vast majority of politicians I have met," said Dr Hanley. "In my experience, Peadar Tóibín has never once attempted to hijack the Save Navan Hospital group for the benefit Sinn Fein. He has consistently encouraged those of all political backgrounds and none to become involved."