Patients told they will have to grin and bear pain

Hundreds of patients with painful conditions such as arthritis will have to ‘grin and bear it’ as Merlin Park Hospital has cancelled Summer clinics.
Around 850 people, many elderly, have had their outpatient rheumatology appointments postponed until later this year.
The hospital claims it was necessary to cancel clinics in July and August because of staff shortages in rheumatology. It says that it is in the process of rescheduling appointments of patients, the majority of whom live in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.
Dáil Deputy Denis Naughten says patients are being left in unnecessary pain for months because of poor planning in the local health service.
He said the staffing problem was manageable and avoidable with simple forward planning.
Independent Deputy Naughten said the rheumatology appointments have been postponed for up to six months, with some rescheduled for December.
“As a result of these postponements, hundreds of patients who are experiencing severe and constant pain will have to wait until November and December to see a consultant to advise them on management of their condition,” he said.
The waiting lists for rheumatology, which includes treatment of arthritis and other painful joint and muscle conditions, already stand at 1,477 in Galway. A further 1,006 people in the West are on the waiting list in Manorhamilton, Leitrim.
“Many patients on the waiting list, who are in constant pain, also end up with further medical complications due to the delay in accessing a consultant rheumatologist who can assist in the day to day management of a debilitating condition,” said Deputy Naughten.
Saolta University Hospital Group, in a statement, said one consultant is currently on maternity leave but a locum will take up a post in September and an extra consultant will take up a post in October, when it says there will be four consultant rheumatologists.
Another registrar is also being assigned to rheumatology this July. It says when the staff are in place it will hold extra clinics to clear the backlog.
“The hospital regrets any inconvenience this may cause to patients and their families. New appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Urgent patients however will continue to be seen on a case-by-case basis,” Saolta said.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.