Mid-West Hospital Campaign welcomes Taoiseach's remarks on second ED
Despite this, the campaign rejected the need for another 'review'
MELANIE Cleary and the Mid-West Hospital Campaign has welcomed the Taoiseach's comments that the Government should be “open” to the idea of a second emergency department in the Mid-West, but have asked for clarity.
“Under his tenure as Minister for Health between 2016 and 2020, the situation at UHL deteriorated to critical levels, yet he showed no interest in hearing the concerns of the people of the Midwest as we begged for a reprieve, as we begged for reform,” Ms Cleary said responding to the Taoiseach’s remarks.
“We also note that the language of the Taoiseach's comments demonstrates absolutely no urgency in addressing the perma-crisis that has engulfed hospital care across the Midwest for fifteen years. He talks about awaiting the results of the latest HIQA review into UHL. He promises the government will act on any recommendations ‘without fear or favour’. We wonder why we should accept or believe this assurance when the government, HSE and UHL Group have all ignored previous HIQA recommendations.”
The Mid-West Hospital Campaign has said that in its view no further reviews or reports are needed.
Ms Cleary added: “Our campaign remains of the view that the EDs should and must re-open at Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s. We accept that this cannot happen all at once so one re-opening will certainly unplug some of the pressure at UHL. Our communities have shed enough blood at the hands of failed politics, ’clinical advice’, and bureaucracy. The time for reports and reviews is over, it's time now to act.”