Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On three occasions in 2022, I raised the issue of the pain clinic at Sligo University Hospital, SUH, with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health, when there were two service interruptions and, previously, when it was closed during the Covid period. Those issues were resolved and the service resumed. However, just over four weeks ago, I received information that there was to be a reduction in service at the pain clinic, with fewer consultants providing the service. I put down three questions to the Minister seeking information on the possible reduction in the number of consultants and a possible reduction in service. I have received no reply. This week, the news broke on local media that the pain clinic is to close tomorrow. Saolta University Health Care Group has since indicated that it will be a temporary closure. While I welcome that indication, I remain concerned.

When I submitted the three questions to which I referred, I also asked the Minister how it is proposed to alleviate the backlog of people waiting to access the pain clinic. I did receive a response to that question. It informed me that there are 341 patients on the SUH outpatient list and 107 on the inpatient list. Before there was any talk of closing the service, there were 448 people on a waiting list to access it. Many of the patients currently accessing the service are really concerned by the prospect of its closure, even if it is only temporary. The service is their lifeline. Chronic pain is often invisible. People who suffer from it feel very isolated. On average, it takes four years from initially visiting a GP to seeing a consultant and getting a diagnosis. Then people have to go on a waiting list to access the service. They are very worried that the service they rely on, which they cannot avail of anywhere else, could be pulled.

I have several questions for the Tánaiste. First, what alternative arrangements are being put in place for the people currently accessing the service? Will they be able to see their current consultant? Has the passing over of records and so on been sorted? Second, what will be done about the people on the waiting list? Have they received any communication about what will happen next and where they will go? Third, why did Saolta University Health Care Group not provide for a continuum of service? It must have known some of the consultants were departing. We have been told consultants are being recruited but, as we know, recruitment can take, six, 12 or 18 months. We are being told the closure is temporary but people have seen the pain clinic closed previously. They have waited and waited for the service to resume. Once again, there was no notice given to patients.

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