Appointments ease threat to Portiuncula

A serious threat hanging over the emergency department at Portiuncula Hospital has been eased with the appointment or approval of ten key senior staff.

However, its future as a round-the-clock accident and emergency unit still hangs in the balance, with management of the hospital group currently reviewing a draft review which recommends its downgrade due to the lack of out-of-hours consultant cover.

Galway’s only voice at the Cabinet table – the newly appointed Minister for Communications and Climate Change Denis Naughten – said limiting the hours at the emergency department had been a red-line issue for him during the negotiations with independent TDs to round up support for the Fine Gael-led minority government.

This week he released a letter from the outgoing health minister Leo Varadkar, which indicated no decision had been taken by the Saolta Hospital Group. While the draft report was being examined by hospital management, it had had not been provided to the Department of Health.

“The Saolta Hospital Group has today clarified that the report is in draft form. The Group has also advised that it is cognisant that any draft report will have to be reviewed and approved by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division and the Department before finalisation,” according to the policy adviser to Minister Varadkar.

“At the time of preparation of the draft report, there were challenges at Portiuncula Hospital regarding adequate consultant cover and consequently the draft report comments on the capacity to provide 24 hour emergency department (ED) service at the Hospital in light of safety concerns,” staffer Philip O’Callaghan states.

“However, the draft report also notes that the nearest 24 hour ED in Galway does not have the extra necessary capacity at present.  Consequently the draft report identifies the preferred solution as being to hire extra staff and/or to put in place joint appointments with Galway University Hospital and other surrounding hospitals, which would permit maintenance of 24/7 coverage at Portiuncula.”

“The Saolta Group has provided an update regarding the consultant staffing at Portiuncula Hospital. The staffing situation has improved at Portiuncula, in particular with the recent hiring one extra ED consultant (now two in post) and four new medical consultants (previously one).”

The letter details a long list of new recruits.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.