Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to express my thanks to the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this issue. I welcome the Minister for Health to the House and thank him for taking the debate. As he will be aware, the medical assessment unit at Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis was established following reconfiguration of acute hospital services in the mid-west region.

Medical assessment units, MAUs, facilitate the immediate assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with medical conditions. Patients are referred to the MAU by a case manager, their GP, Shannondoc, or through University Hospital Limerick, once it is established they are suitable for the service.

Since its opening in Ennis in 2013, the number of patients presenting at Ennis MAU has increased every year, with between 20 patients and 35 patients attending it every day. Following a comprehensive business case submitted by the University Limerick hospital group to the Department of Health, the service was extended from a five-day to a seven-day service in May 2016. The then Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, visited the hospital where he received a comprehensive presentation from Dr. Tom Peirce, the consultant in charge at the MAU, on the merits of extending the service into the weekends. I was delighted when the service was extended. I compliment Dr. Tom Peirce and his team for delivering a top-class service to the people of County Clare. The stated aim of the MAU team is to have same-day diagnosis, treatment and discharge of patients whenever possible.

Last Tuesday, however, a misleading claim was made in the House that weekend MAU services at Ennis Hospital will be discontinued. That misinformed charge has led to unfounded headlines in local newspapers declaring proposed reductions in services at the unit. Following discussions with the chief executive officer of the University Limerick hospital group, Professor Colette Cowan, and with the Minister for Health on several occasions yesterday, it is my understanding that the seven-day MAU service is secure and will not change. In fact, it will be improved with the construction of a new MAU area, a new minor injuries unit and a new radiology area.

I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber this evening, as he is now in a position to bring absolute clarity to this situation. Will he place on the record of the House the accurate position regarding the future of the MAU at Ennis Hospital? Such clarity is now required following the unfortunate events of this week.

See this speech in context