Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu. I am again calling for the extension of opening hours and indeed opening days for the minor injury unit at Monaghan Hospital.

Including Monaghan, there are ten minor injury units located throughout the country. Minor injuries are unlikely to lead to hospital admission. A super service is provided in Monaghan. I have experience of it myself. People can walk in or their GP can refer them and there is no charge if the patient attending has a medical card or a referral letter from their local GP. The injuries unit at Monaghan has been in operation since 2009 with patients aged five years and over able to attend. As the Minister of State probably is aware, these units deal with a wide range of minor injuries, including for example suspected broken bones to arms - from collarbones to fingertips, strains and sprains, facial and eye injuries, minor scalds and burns, wounds, bites, cuts and splinters, as well as suspected foreign bodies in the eyes, ears, nose and mouth and minor chest injuries. People also can get X-rays there, if required. The unit in Monaghan has provided a valuable and important service to the public while simultaneously reducing the pressure on the accident and emergency unit in Cavan.

However, while all the other injury units in the country are open seven days a week, the unit in Monaghan has the shortest opening times and that is what this debate is about this morning. Most units around the country operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, but Monaghan is limited to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week. These are the shortest opening hours of any of the ten minor injury units in the country and Monaghan's is the only such unit not operating on a seven-day-per-week basis. Turning to the figures for those attending, Monaghan's figures are almost at the same level as those for the minor injury unit in Bantry, which is open seven days a week. It could well be argued that were Monaghan open for the same hours and number of days as Bantry, its figures would be higher.

Over the past number of years I have tried to raise awareness of the injuries unit in Monaghan. The HSE itself has recently done a fantastic campaign informing the public of the wide range of services available there.Many people do not realise the types of conditions that can be treated at the unit. Since the awareness campaign, and I compliment the staff on their work, the figures are again on the increase.

I am sure the Minister of State will agree that there is a genuine case for extending the hours at the centre. People ask why County Monaghan has been treated differently from other parts of the country. I mean that there are ten injury units and the unit in Monaghan is the only one that is confined to operating five days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unfortunately, the figure for the number of people attending the accident and emergency unit at Cavan General Hospital is on the increase. Many of them could be treated in Monaghan if people were made aware of the unit and if the hours were extended, especially at weekends when people participate in sports and, therefore, as a result there is a higher volume of injuries. In 2021, the average waiting time in the Monaghan injuries unit was one hour while a high number of 401 patients waited for more than 24 hours to be treated at Cavan accident and emergency unit. That proves a case can be made in favour of the injuries unit.

I respectfully ask that consideration is given to extending the days and hours of opening at the unit in Monaghan. I hope that the Minister for Health can facilitate a discussion along those lines.