HSE Assure Stagg Accident And Emergency Services Will be Maintained at Naas General Hospital
Issued : Sunday 25 July, 2010
Areas : Naas
On foot of concerns expressed earlier this year by the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine that difficulties in recruiting Non Consultant Hospital Doctors posed an acute problem in Naas General Hospital and could lead to a curtailment of current Accident and Emergency Cover, Deputy Emmet Stagg sought assurances from the HSE that A & E cover would not be curtailed at Naas General Hospital.
The HSE have now advised Deputy Stagg that there are currently sufficient doctors available to maintain a 24/7 Emergency Department at Naas General Hospital.
Welcoming the confirmation that sufficient doctors are available at present, Deputy Stagg stated that the continued operation of 24/7 Accident and Emergency Services at Naas was critical for the care of the Public in Kildare.
The very fact that the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine raised this issue last March stated Deputy Stagg shows how inefficient and mismanaged our Health Services are by the Government and HSE, and the early warning by them obviously focused minds.
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9th APRIL, 2010 - Stagg Calls on Harney to address Possible Junior Doctor Shortage at Naas General Hospital
Deputy Emmet Stagg has reacted angrily to the warning from the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine which states that the difficulties in recruiting Non Consultant Hospital Doctors poses an acute problem in Naas General Hospital and could see Accident and Emergency Services curtailed from their present 24 hour, 7 day a week cover.
The warning from the IAEM is yet another example of the inefficiency and mismanagement of our Health Services by The Government and the HSE stated Deputy Stagg. The HSE have, I understand, stated that there is no plan to change or curtail A & E services at Naas, but I would take that commitment with a grain of salt stated Deputy Stagg indicating that the IAEM are Medical Professionals who do not issue warnings without foundation.
The continued Operation of 24 Seven A & E Services at Naas General Hospital is critical for the Care of the Public in Kildare and any curtailment in hours will ultimately put the welfare and safety of patients at risk.
Ultimately it is up to the MInister for Health and the HSE to address this shortage of Non Consultant Hospital Doctors which is posing such a risk to A & E Services at Naas. We can`t prevent Irish trained NCHD`s from going abroad but we must ensure that terms and working conditions are not a disincentive to remaining in the Irish Healthcare System. In addition we have always relied to a certain extent on junior hospital doctors from abroad and any obstacles being placed on their recruitment such as VISA and Work Permit difficulties must be addressed concluded Deputy Stagg.
