Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

Other hospital consultants, including physicians, surgeons and anaesthetists, are called to Mallow General Hospital's accident and emergency facility when their expertise is required in assessing or supervising treatment of particular patients. Trauma cases are usually transferred to hospital by ambulance. Ambulance personnel work to a protocol and are required to bring patients to Cork University Hospital if they are within 30 minutes of it. The HSE has advised that it is actively examining how cover at consultant level can be extended to improve care for patients at Mallow General Hospital within the framework of the 2002 Comhairle na nOspidéal report on accident and emergency services.

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