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Recent News
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Keeping you up to date with the recent news
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| LOGO Gone??................ issued 03-Feb-2005 | reply to | With the new Health Executive comes new letter heads etc etc at quite a cost. In 1994 the North Eastern Health Board spent a considerable sum of money in having a special Logo commissioned and emblazoned on all their documents. Now that will be consigned to history, we presume.
However one aspect of that Logo may still be relevant. On the breastplate was the image of cupped hands with water dripping from them. The symbolism was that, according to legend, the warrior Diarmuid ua Duibhne was badly wounded by a wild boar. His only method of treatment was to receive water from the river Boyne. His comrade headed off to get it and had to try to carry it in his cupped hands but by the time he got there it was too late and Diarmuid died.
How ironic for the people of Monaghan, who sometimes need urgent treatment and are told that the best place to get it is in Drogheda on the Boyne. However, as has happened, by the time the patient gets there it is too late, because it was just too far away.
So perhaps the new Health Executive should continue to have this symbol as part of its Logo so as to warn the people of Monaghan that they should move house to a location nearer the Boyne. Otherwise they are going to be taking their chances of being part of the 5% who are not going to make treatment on time.Back to Top | | The Mist Lifts…………….. issued 01-Feb-2005 | reply to | We are beginning to see clearly now and our predictions are coming true. The politicians are not to blame for our health services, or lack of them, any more. They have appointed a new ‘Health Executive’ and they must take the responsibility for provision of services and if patients, communities or any one complains then this mysterious body of familiar faces are to blame.
The Hanly report is dead – there is no doubt about that. Even the department officials know that – well most of the officials do. However it is still the only game on the table and a few will conspire to make sure it stays there, though called by a different name. There is no move to try to find an alternative but then who cares – let the new executive muck their way through the maze and they are going to stick to the Hanly principles. That is obvious from the activity in the North East, where according to reports, the officials are adamant that they will dictate services even against the advice of the Clinicians. They will decide what is safe for patients, even though a Consultant says it is unsafe? And they will decide that something is unsafe, even when a Consultant says it is safe? We will soon have to be examined by officials before we go to the A & E, just in case the doctors get it wrong and put us into the wrong ward!! A big mistake coming soon will expose the foolishness of this stance.Back to Top | | Scandal ………… issued 28-Jan-2005 | reply to | The scandal continues with twenty patients lying on trolleys in Cavan while beds lie idle in Monaghan General Hospital. The situation in Cavan has not been improved and with a High Court case pending it does not look as if it will be sorted in the immediate future. Is this a ploy to have chaos there when it is inspected in the near future, so that services will be closed down there?
We in Monaghan have seen this all before and we know the result. Meanwhile Monaghan struggles on without a CT scanner for acute and emergency medical cases. There is no sign of the refurbishment, which was recommended, and we still do not know where, or of what kind, the ten extra beds are. We have refrained from making statements and have waited patiently to see progress in Monaghan, but nothing is moving forward. The honeymoon period for the Minister and the new Health Executive is about over and it is now time for us to see positive action in the areas, which need urgent attention if even the current status of the hospital is to be maintained. Sick patients have still to travel to other hospitals for simple procedures and tests that should and could be administered in Monaghan. We begin in earnest again next week with a meeting on Wednesday night and listening to members they are far from happy and listening to patients tells us that we must make noise again, only louder this time.Back to Top | | National News .... issued 14-Jan-2005 | reply to | The Health Services Action Group (the National Group campaigning for small hospitals) has issued the following statement today:
HANLY PROPOSAL IS NOT DEAD, ONLY SLEEPING -HOSPITAL SERVICES ACTION GROUP.
Friday 14th January 2005.
The Hospital Service Action Group meets this weekend in Portlaoise to review the current situation with regard to Government policy on the implementation of the Hanly Report and the future of smaller acute hospitals.
In particular the group will look at the announcement by the Department of
Health that Hanly Two will not be implemented until there is agreement on the consultants contract. All this means is that the Hanly Report is sleeping not dead - says Peadar Mc. Mahon, Chairman of Hospital Services Action Group.
"As a group we are continuing to plan our defence of the smaller acute hospitals right across the country which we know are threatened by the Governments determination to centralise acute services despite all the evidence to show that this policy is downright dangerous".
"We are clear that the new Health Minister Mary Harney is set on a strategy of downgrading 26 acute Hospitals around the country. Works is taking place in the background to be ready to implement Hanly Two as soon as consultants are brought on side".
" We are urging communities all around the country to prepare for the defence of their Hospital because this is what will be needed".
Queries Peadar Mc. Mahon
Chairperson of Hospital Services Action Group.
086-8156816
We are totally behind this and urge all other areas to take note of what is happening. If you want to see what it will mean in reality, then come and speak to the people of Monaghan.
Back to Top | | Crisis ............................ issued 12-Jan-2005 | reply to | | What excuse can be given and what can be said to those lying on trolleys in hospitals like Cavan, when beds, staff and resources are lying idle and available in Monaghan General Hospital. This is a disgrace and no rational reason can be given except that someone's agenda does not want services to increase at Monaghan. Is this putting the patient first? Is this humanity in action? Is this criminal? Someone somewhere has to bear the consequences of this lack of action and the imposition of so much added suffering, which does not need to happen.Back to Top | | Good but not good enough ..... issued 11-Jan-2005 | reply to | The fact that Monaghan is back 'On Call' for medical emergencies is a welcome step forward, as we have already stated. However a number of serious problems still exist.
1. When will the CT Scanner be purchased for Monaghan? To have acute and emergency medicine in a hospital without the basic equipment for diagnosis is like a mechanic without a wrench. This must be put in place sooner rather than later. At the moment patients have to be transferred to Cavan to have the Scan. Imagine a stroke victim in Monaghan being put into an ambulance and transported to Cavan and back again to have the scan. Surely this is not good for the patient, especially in a 'patient-centred health care service'.
2. Ambulance technicians are taking the flak from the public when they diagnose surgical rather than medical and take the patient to Cavan. Some of them have also found it very difficult to make the decision and it is causing stress to these personnel. Their Union will have to take action to protect them.
3. Cavan has asked only urgent cases to attend the A & E there. Sligo is in trouble, Drogheda is in trouble, so what do Monaghan patients do? Lie on trolleys like all the rest is the only answer at the moment instead of utilising the facilities and resources at Monaghan.
4. Daily the consultants in Monaghan are facing the very difficult task of finding a bed in another hospital for patients who need surgical intervention, which is not allowed at Monaghan. These cases are being logged from all three consultants and appropriate action will be encouraged by us. We will also have advice for the patients and families of patients who suffer added trauma and distress as a result of this situation. Back to Top | | Back On Call .............. issued 06-Jan-2005 | reply to | Monaghan Hospital goes back ON CALL for medical cases today at noon. This is good news and one that many said would never happen. This positive action will save lives.
However there are 3 consultant surgeons, 5 surgical SHOs, 2 Surgical registrars, excellent staff, bed capacity and a state of the art theatre in Monaghan. Why can they not be utilised to take the pressure off Cavan, who had 17 people lying on trolleys last night waiting for a bed. Monaghan can assist in relieving this situation if the Health Executive would just put Monaghan back on full call. This would give the authorities time to sort out the problems at Cavan. This is a common sense approach.
The fact the hospital is on call for medical emergencies means that the Technicians on the ambulance will have to make life or death decisions on the roadside or patients home - is this medical or is it surgical? They have no diagnostic equipment or indeed such a level of training to make these decisions with safety and that is a worrying aspect to the new situation. Secondly the management of the hospital will have to make sure that the resources are channeled in the right direction to allow the staff at Monaghan perform their work. We shall await further developments but delighted with the current news.Back to Top | | Driving Hanly ......... issued 05-Jan-2005 | reply to | It is clear to us now, when we read the interview with Mr. Kelly in the Irish Medical Times, who is driving forward the Hanly reforms - It is the Department led by Mr. Kelly. His plan seems to be a great economic plan and he throws in 'quality care for patients' here and there. But it is all about money. If the GPs will accept change then they will get more money, if the consultants agree to the changes then they too will get more money. It is all about bargaining for a better pay package and less to do with quality care and access to services.
We in Monaghan wonder why he puts so much emphasis on the restructuring of the Primary Care in the pilot areas of Mid-West and East Coast before the Hanly reforms for the hospitals is pushed forward. Why does he not ensure that the same whould happen in the North East, where the Hanly Reforms are being pushed through without any change in the Primary Care system? He blames doctors and consultants for not playing ball with the reforms and says that there is nothing wrong with the management. That is at variance with the findings of the RCSI Report on Cavan last month. That is also at variance with what we have experienced over the past ten years and more in Monaghan.
He has also agreed that the new set up will remove the Department and the Minister from the front line of fire - of having to put out the bush fires. Our answer is - no, it does not. We, the Irish people, have elected the Minister to manage our affairs and it is not possible for any Minister to off load that responsibility to others - the buck will still stop with the Minister.
We have also been made aware, through the grapevine, but not by the Health Board obviously, of the new stealth plan to sort out surgery in Monaghan and Cavan. There are two Locum consultants in Monaghan. Their jobs are being advertised and the appointments will be based in Cavan. That will have got rid of two from Monaghan and also increase the permanent posts in Cavan, thus satisfying the RCSI demand for permanent post there. That will leave one permanent post in Monaghan, which will be useless and he will either have to move to Cavan or accept a post elsewhere and thus surgery has gone from Monaghan. At that stage there will be no point in having 5 surgical SHOs in Monaghan and they will also be faded out. This will also mean an end to staffing for the Treatment Room, which will become a simple minor injuries unit, staffed by a nurse for a limited period. With tight protocols, medical cases going to Monaghan will be limited and decrease to such an extent that it will have to cease taking emergencies and acute cases. This will mean an end to the NCHDs in medicine in Monaghan and what are we left with? -- a Hanly type small hospital. The scenario is about to happen in a town near you. You will experience it for yourself - especially if you are the patient looking for urgent treatment.Back to Top | | Nothing Has Changed ........... issued 04-Jan-2005 | reply to | Nothing has changed nor is it likely to in the immediate future. Our fears have been realised when we read that all the old staff will be retained, even those who have no 'useful role'. They continue to get their big salaries, benchmarking bonus and premium pensions according to reports. Meanwhile more administrators will be hired to do the work. So more and more money is going to be needed to fund the administration while front-line staff struggle on with lack of resources.
The latest report from the RCSI on the surgical unit at Cavan condemns it once again. Twelve months and nothing has changed there either. The management is being blamed yet that same management is still in place and is being retained to reform the health services. We are expected to join up with Cavan and feel confident that our health needs will be met in such a hospital - who do they think they are kidding? Look at the expert work that has been taking place in Monaghan, even since the hospital was taken 'OFF CALL' and one can see where we would want to go for treatment. Just think what it could achieve if it were allowed.
Last week a patient called an ambulance. At 8am on Tuesday it took him to Cavan with obdominal pain. He lay on a trolley on a corridor, with no food or diagnosis until 9am on Wednesday. He was then informed that they had no bed and could not carry out the necessary tests on him so they transferred him to Monaghan, but they had no notes to send with him. There, after initial tests it was decided that he needed a CT Scan. He was then taken back to Cavan by taxi for the Scan. The taxi waited and took the patient back to Monaghan six hours later, and the consultant in Monaghan made the diagnosis and prescribed treatment. What a waste of time and resources!!! and what about that for a patient-centred service!!!
Laugh if you like but this service is coming to a town near you very soon when the Hanly Plan is rolled out in the new year.Back to Top | | Another Roadside Birth ................ issued 28-Dec-2004 | reply to | On Christmas Eve a Monaghan lady went into labour and was being transferred by ambulance to Cavan Maternity Unit but the journey was too far for the baby, who decided to make her way into the world, when the ambulance was just ten miles from Monaghan. Along the side of the road, with ambulance technicians in attendance, the baby girl was born.
There was no mid-wife present and according to reports 'was not allowed to travel'. One Ambulance technician, not one of those present in this case, is reported as saying that he received 45 minutes of theory on childbirth and that is how he has been trained to deal with situations like this. The 'doc-on-call' was called but all was over by the time he reached the scene, but would he/she have been any better prepared to deal with complications?
Thankfully the mother and baby are fine and the parents are delighted with the new addition to the family but we can speculate on what might have happened had there been any kind of complication for mother and/or for baby. Sooner or later that scenario is going to happen and we wonder what excuses will be put forward to justify the actions of those who have created this problem. All we will be able to say is - 'we told you so' and we will have to add our sympathies to all the others.
When will they value human life?? - when it is too late???Back to Top |
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