The centralisation of acute hospital services in the Mid West was described as a "dangerous and irresponsible" policy during a lively debate on the topic last night.
During a public debate last night where the motion was that the centralisation of acute hospital services is in the interest of patient safety, Dr Michael Harty, described the centralisation of acute services in the Midwest as "scandalous and simplistic"
The centralisation of acute hospital services in the Mid West was described as a "dangerous and irresponsible" policy during a lively debate on the topic last night.
During a public debate last night where the motion was that the centralisation of acute hospital services is in the interest of patient safety, Dr Michael Harty, described the centralisation of acute services in the Midwest as "scandalous and simplistic"
The public debate last night at the Limerick Institute of Technology was held before an audience of over 200, the majority of whom were against the centralisation of acute hospital services in the Mid West
The reconfiguration meant the closure of full time Accident and Emergency services at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals which came in for huge local opposition.
Clare GP Dr Michael Harty, and Co Chairman of the Clare-North Tipperary GP Action Committee said that the policy of centralisation places patients at unacceptable distances from life saving medical care
Paul Burke, one of the consultants charged with implementing the changes said that centralisation of services did "not mean closing local hospitals or taking away services, but merely changing the way" these services were delivered.
According to Dr Burke, since April 6th last, when centralisation of services was introduced in the Midwest, there had been an increase of four patients attending the Limerick AE department.
