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EMYVALE

Patients Hit Once Again.

The HSE Dublin North East has decided to hit the patients of Monaghan once again with further cuts to the services available to them in Monaghan General Hospital. This month will see a reduction in the number of clinics and surgical activity in Monaghan with the aim of saving money and getting within the 2011 budget. The Government has directed the HSE to work within a certain budget and each area is expected to do so by whatever means they like. These present cuts are to make up for the shortfall from the 2011 budget. The 2012 budget for Cavan/Monaghan has not been published yet but it is sure to see a further reduction on last year.

This will mean that in a couple of months time still further cuts will be needed to meet the reduced funding for 2012. It is at that stage that the Monaghan Minor Injuries Unit will come to the fore once again and the only reduction possible there is to close it completely.

That will also be the solution to the problem, which the HSE is manufacturing now by transferring staff from Monaghan to Cavan. Those who have been transferred, and who will be transferred during the coming weeks, cannot be transferred back to Monaghan as they will be necessary to fill vacancies in Cavan. No new staff can be taken on because of the Recruitment embargo and so the HSE will claim that they cannot get sufficient staff to enable the Minor Injuries Unit to continue and that, unfortunately, they are forced to close it ‘temporarily’.

By purposely reducing activity in Monaghan they are also making it very difficult for the Review Group to recommend an MAU for Monaghan. This would suit the HSE perfectly as it has been clear that they do not want to see an MAU in Monaghan, despite patient needs.

The HSE also claims that patients will not be effected by the proposed reduction in Clinics. It is unbelievable that they would try to hood-wink the public like that. Of course patients will be inconvenienced to say the least and put in danger at worst. Monaghan patients, who have to travel to Cavan to access Clinics formerly accessed in Monaghan, will have the extra cost and difficulty in getting transport to and from Cavan. The added time taken will mean problems, if that time is taken off work. Waiting times and lists will grow and essential treatment delayed, which in some cases could be catastrophic.

Since its formation the admin costs and the areas of waste in the HSE have been highlighted and yet when cuts are being made it is the frontline services which suffer most and that means more suffering for the patients and indeed for staff, who have to deal with the fall out and added problems. The Alliance at its meeting on Tuesday night last expressed great dissatisfaction with the two Fine Gael TDs and the lack of progress from what they have done to date and are asking members of the public, organisations and all public representatives to do all in their power to get the Minister to take control of the Health Services and to restore the services to Monaghan General Hospital.