Seanad debates

Wednesday, 22 October 2003

National Task Force on Medical Staffing: Statements.

 

Some 70% of patients currently using A&E in Nenagh will continue to do so, which is fine. However, let us take the example of a broken hand, a classic example in a county where there is a lot of hurling, with a patient presenting on a Sunday afternoon at A&E in Nenagh Hospital. Such a case would not be unusual. The hand will be X-rayed and the patient will have to be sent to Limerick. An elderly relation of mine recently had a minor fall in the nursing home where he is a patient. As the nursing home was giving him excellent care, he was brought from Roscrea to Nenagh Hospital, where an X-ray revealed a hairline fracture in his shoulder. He was then brought by ambulance to Limerick for an identical X-ray. The people attending to him told me all this. I understand the staff in Nenagh Hospital were being cautious, but we must look at the delivery of care in such cases.

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