Tánaiste intervenes over Merlin theatre fiasco

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has conceded ‘it should not be rocket science’ to provide modular orthopaedic operating theatres at Merlin Park – where more than 2,000 patients are waiting for surgery since a leaking roof closed the original theatre in 2017.

Speaking in the Dáil last week, the Tánaiste said the delays were frustrating and that there “needs to be a sense of urgency to solve the problem as quickly as possible”.

The debacle was raised by Galway West Deputy Catherine Connolly, who asked what hope the national children’s hospital had if modular theatres cannot be provided at Merlin Park.

As reported last week, the HSE has withdrawn from its contract with Falcon Healthcare to provide the modular theatres.

The original two theatres closed in September 2017 due to a leaking roof – one of those theatres underwent remedial works and re-opened, but ‘throughput’ has been cut by around one third, resulting in longer waiting lists.

The surgeries include complex joint replacements, spinal surgery, foot and ankle and shoulder surgery

Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív described the waiting list as “the worst backlog I have ever seen in my time in politics”.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.