The UL Hospitals Group has defended its plans to introduce a new 'bed bureau' in the MidWest.
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The Group's Clinical Director of Medicine Professor Declan Lyons has been speaking in light of criticisms of the plan, which will be introduced next month and see GPs deal with a centralised point of contact when deciding whether to refer patients to hospitals in Ennis, Limerick or Nenagh.
Clare's Independent TD, Dr Michael Harty believes it will take away the GP's ability to liaise directly with senior clinical staff, which he says would be bad for patients.
But Professor Lyons insists that GPs will remain at the core of any decisions and is hopeful the measure will help reduce overcrowding.
