To Whom It May Concern.
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of County Monaghan regarding the proposed further downgrading of the present services within Monaghan General Hospital.
On Wednesday 16th May I was going about my daily routine. I am a lorry driver and have been for many years. This particular evening in question I got sudden chest pains, crushing in nature, while at my oil depot in Lough Egish. I felt my life was going to end. I managed to make a call to my fellow workmate to aleart him to my situation. He returned to the depot and may I take this opportunity to thank him for his quick thinking. He then contacted the Doctor On Call, who advised that I be taken to him. On arrival to the Doctor on Call I was given rapid appropriate treatment and was transferred to Monaghan General Hospital.
On arrival to Monaghan I was initially treated in the Treatment Room and it was quickly diagnosed that I was having a heart attack. Within minutes I was transferred to the Coronary Care Unit. I was attended to immediately and given the clot-busting drug that is so vital in the early management of a heart attack. I remained in the CC Unit overnight where I received the highest standard of care.
The following morning despite maximum intervention it was recognised that the symptoms were not relieved. The medical team, lead by Dr. Muthu, contacted St. James Hospital, Dublin. This phone call was made at approx 9am and at 10.30 I departed Monaghan to St. James, with a nurse and a doctor travelling with me. I went straight to their angio department and was taken straight away. I had a stent inserted to the arteries of my heart. I was kept overnight and returned to Monaghan the following day. I now feel well but remain as an inpatient in CCU, where I can't describe the care I am receiving.
I wnated to highlight this issue because the current proposals recommend the closure of this unit on 1st of July 2007. Without these facilities, I can put my hand on my heart and say that I would not be alive today.
A department with such highly skilled, committted staff, who provide a level of care that could not be described in words.
So again, I wish to thank everyone for giving me a second chance at life. I will always believe that without Monaghan Hospital I would not be alive today.
Yours sincerely,
Seamus Hughes,
Leitrim,
Silverstream.

just heard the news about the new report that A & E is to shut in monaghan-navan-drogheda!!! Where do we go??? so much for decentalisation and so much for the empty words of fianna fail--but in all honesty is there any party/independent with the balls to go out and fight tooth and nail and ACTUALLY manage to SAVE our hospital and not succomb to some pathetic agreement that 'retains' a unit for the 'foreseeable future'...When is the government going to be honest and say it like it is; that the hospitals are inevitably closing, that the border counties as usual do not come into the equation-it seems more important to sit down Paisley, Gerry and Bertie and discuss cross-border issues- when HELLO!! the issue IS the BORDER. Where to now???

My daughter works and lives in Dublin. She felt unwell late one night, Autumn 06 and went to the Mater A&E. She sat 7 hours before being seen. She was diagnosed with muscular pain and prescribed medication. 3 days later she was really ill and went to a GP in Dublin who changed her medication. She came home to Monaghan 2 days later feeling really unwell. I brought her to Doctor on call who diagnosed a kidney infection and prescribed antibiotics. The following day she was not improving so I brought her to Monaghan General. She was seen immediately. They agreed that it was a kidney infection and admitted her. She responded very quickly to treatment and within 24 hours was well on the way to recovery. She recieved the highest quality care from all the staff and we really appreciate their professionalism and kindness

I received a letter from An Toiseach Mr Bertie Ahern on the 5th of December 06'.
I wrote to him last "September" stating the fact that I had a serious R.T.A.on 26th of July 1995 and only for Monaghan General Hospital I would be DEAD..
This is a fact.. I think it is an utter disgrace that our local hospital is being closed down, slowly but surely!!

I'm living and walking proof that this hospital is and "always" will be needed!!

Yours Sincerely,
Lisa Cuddy

Please, please, I’m asking you once more,
To join us in Dublin, to shout, cheer and roar.
If you’re unsure of what you have to do,
Just ask Father Deery and he’ll give you a clue.
So all come along and join in the fun,
‘Cause we need everybody to get the work done.
Into your cars and on your way,
We’ll stop at Mary’s to tell her what we have to say.

Enough is enough of your valium and ‘stuff’,
Or we’ll all end up in a great big ‘puff’.
Twenty long years we put up with this mess,
And all you give us is less and less.
If you could ease our hearts and minds,
Then we could do away with our signs,
So when we’re sick, tired and slow,
Please don’t tell us there is nowhere to go.
So many times we shout and we roar,
But you just keep downgrading it more.

If there’s any way you could do us a deal,
Surely to God we wouldn’t have to appeal,
But if you don’t do the decent thing,
Like get on the phone and give us a ring.
We’ll roar and shout and get you put out,
And won’t be responsible for what comes out of our mouth.
So all in Monaghan, you know who to blame,
If she puts our lovely hospital to shame.

So little children far and near,
Ply, jump and run and have no fear.
All you elderly that are creaky and bent,
After carrying this burden all this length,
So if you’re in need of any little thing,
Just give Doctor Illona a very quick ring,
Or just pop around and give her a call,
Before she joins them all in the Dail.

So all come out in your cars and vans,
I think it is time we elected a new man.
Wouldn’t Peadar McMahon do just grand,
He’ll put us at ease and deliver our needs.
Up he’ll stand ever so tall,
To put our services back once and for all.
WITH FISTS CLENCHED TIGHT AND HIS FACE ASHEN WHITE,
To tell them we’ll not give up without a fight.

So shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand,
Peadar and Illona will battle to save our land.
No more ambulances stopping in lay-bys,
To let women give birth on the roadside.
With all this in hand to give us a thrill,
We’ll have our hospital back on the Hill.
So people of Monaghan, come to the fore,
And don’t let them close our hospital door.
Helen Kennedy, Glaslough.

Her letter in the Northern Standard reads as follows:
Dear Sir, Once again I refer to the present crisis at our hospitals, in particular Monaghan General Hospital. I am one of the lucky ones who secured a bed at Monaghan General Hospital about 4 years ago, where I was a patient for 10 days.
My local hospital would be Cavan – but at that time they had no beds available for me at Cavan, and only for Monaghan Hospital I probably would not be around now.
I do realise the importance of keeping Monaghan Hospital in full operation and I sincerely hope that drastic measures will be taken to put Monaghan General Hospital on the survival and progressive track again.
I often think back the years – back to the 50’s when we lived in a less sophisticated world – but one thing we did have was a sound hospital service – I quote if I may ‘Back in the 50’s a hospital was that place where dedicated doctors and nursing staff were fully prepared to greet you on arrival’. Now over 50 years later we are all fighting for and praying for hospital 'survival'.
Mrs. Liz Maxwell.

In the excitement of our success last November, two instances of critical importance were perhaps overlooked in that both cases ended on a positive note. We refer to the serious head injury to Derek McCarville, which was well chronicled at the time, and to a lesser known fact when John McBride, father of Mark, Sean and Gary, was threatened with a serious heart attack at the end of the championship final at Clontibret. The one important thread linking the two cases was the care and attention Derek and John received at Monaghan General Hospital – literally within minutes, which undoubtedly led to both making a full recovery. We, and their families, dread to think what might have happened if they had to be brought on a longer journey to another hospital.
Monaghan County Board has steadfastly encouraged clubs to support our hospital and to keep a record of every incident when they require the services of Monaghan Hospital. With the start of the new playing season approaching, we are extremely anxious that the emergency services at our hospital are maintained and upgraded to deal with any emergency that might arise in the future.

How long are we going to wait on some civil servant to make up his mind as to what services should be in Monaghan? We are suffering daily torture in trying to get treatment and having to travel to Cavan and Drogheda for the simplest thing. There we have to wait for hours before we can be seen. The time off work must be costing the state a small fortune. As well we have to listen to abuse from people from the locality of the hospital giving out to us for taking up space in their waiting rooms. Let us remind them - this is not of our doing but is being forced on us. This is freedom like Bush is giving to the people of Iraq.

I am an ambulance nurse for 11 years in the Netherlands. I have made my own website, a sort start page.



I would like to ask you if you can help me on www addresses for EMS services in your country. I can not find a page where they are. When I have some addresses I can link them to my page so my page will be better.

I am searching for ambulance services but also for helicopter rescue squads and air rescue services.



I am looking for webpage’s in the English language.





Notice; the site is in the Dutch language but a lot of pages are also available in English. For the pictures there is no problem.

Maybe in the future there will come an especially English site. I am still working it out.



Waiting for your answer,



Sincerely yours;



Gerrit van Gennep



Please take a look at my site http://www.ambulance.startbewijs.nl <http://www.ambulance.startbewijs.nl/>

It seems that the ambulance crews are depending on the GPs of Monaghan to come out and stabilise patients at the roadside or in homes before they transfer them to Cavan or Drogheda. They are not allowed to take patients to Monaghan even to stabilise them. Isn't this a very dangerous practice?
What happens if a GPs is not available? What happens if the GP has not the necessary equipment to do what will be expected of him/her? What happens if the patient dies because he/she was not brought to a hospital soon enough? Will the blame be on the ambulance crew? - or the GP? - or the hospital staff? It likely won't be on the Health Board as we have learned in the past.

A few days ago my neighbour, a senior citizens who has had a hip replacement,dislocated that hip at 7.00a.m. and called her daughter. She called an ambulance which came to the North Monaghan house. When the lady was put into the ambulance the daughter asked which hospital she was being taken to. She was told - OMAGH. When queried she was told by the attendant that those were his orders. This was 8.00am.
At 11.00am the daughter phoned Omagh to be told that there was no one of the name given in that hospital. After further pressing they told her that her mother was indeed in the hospital but could not be admitted as she was orthopaedic and they did not have that service there. They added that they were waiting on an ambulance to come back from Monaghan to take her back.
The lady was eventually collected and brought to Drogheda where she arrived at 6.00p.m. In other words this lady, in pain, was lying from 7.00am until 6.00pm waiting for a hospital. Now I know what they mean when they say that we have a Third World Health Service in Monaghan.
This is an absolute disgrace and those who have brought about this situation will have to answer for their lack of humanity. They can blame who ever they like but I know someone who knows the truth and he will have the final say. Shame on you bureaucrats.

Thursday 7.am. I am 14 weeks pregnant and hegin to haemorage. I go striahgt to A & E in Cavan.
8.00am. - I have a scan.
8.40am - everyting seems fine but I am told to wait for a further examination.
1.45pm. - I am still sitting ona chair in A & E with a blanket and I have seen no doctor.
1.50pm. - I am put on a trolley in the corridor opposite an external door with people coming and going regularly. It is very cold.
3.50pm. - Put into a bed in the surgical ward.
5.00pm. - I am told that a doctor is on the way to see me.
6.10pm. - The doctor is still on the way.
Friday, 11.30am. - still no doctor. My family kicks up a stink.
12.30pm. - Doctor finally arrives.

What kind of service is this for an expectant mother with first child and in difficulty? Why should we have to beg for service and treatment? Another Bronagh Livingstone will happen and still nothing will happen. Open Monaghan and relieve the pressure on Cavan.

> Isnt it time the Health Board did something about Monaghan. Cavan is
> stuffed and the nurses cannot cope with the extra patients coming from
> Monaghan. Patients are lying on trolleys for 48 hours at least waiting for a
> bed. The nurses and doctors are run off their feet trying to see patients.
> They are going to make mistakes and some of these are going to be fatal.
> Everyone who suffers extra trauma because of this shortage should head
> straight to their solicitor and put in a claim against the Health Board. There
> are excellent staff and facilities at Monaghan and they are not being used
> while all this is going on up here. The Cavan people are being penalised
> because the Monaghan people have to come up here for treatment instead of
> getting it in their own hospital. Why should we have to suffer? Shame on the
> government for letting it happen.

Dear Peadar,
I hope all is good with you and the County Monaghan Alliance group. I have been following all events with Monaghan Hospital and sadden by the recent death of Bronagh Livingstone. I know we need to form a committee here in New York to assist in any way we can with the campaign to Save our Hospital. In January my aim is to bring a group of people together to get the wheels in motion and do what ever you think could help out. We could have immigrants write letters to government bodies - host a fundraiser to assist in your expenses or whatever you might suggest.
The website is great and I will have Monaghan Society enclose details of it in their monthly letter to their members as not everyone buys the Northern Standard and may not be aware of it.
It can be difficult to get people motivated to join new committee's here and also to have the free time - however if the County Monaghan Alliance group have family, friends or contacts here that might be interested in something like this they could pass on the message to them and have them contact me via email info14@eskrapersonnel.com or at (914)237-9002.
Best wishes to you and the group on all the hard work that has been done. I hope I can get some strong support on this side of the ocean......well at least try.
regards, Catherine Flood

We have no definite plans for that at the moment but if you can get your friends to sent the e-card on our postacard page on this site it would be very useful. Thanks for your help and keep up the interest and spread the word. Best wishes, Peadar.

Dear Peadar,

Myself and a few of the girls from Monaghan working here in Dublin were wondering if you had any plans for an online petition because I'm sure we'd be able to drum up alot of support from Monaghan people nationally and internationally who are not able to sign the petition lists in Monaghan themselves in person.

Yours sincerely,
Mary Clerkin

About a couple of years ago my big brother was involved in a serious accident. He was kicked in the face by a cow and fell of the high ditch onto the road into the path of tractor, the driver didn't see him and it wasn't until the driver felt a bump that he reversed and saw him on the ground. The tractor had draged him and he had bad cuts to his face and one side of his body was bashed up by the wheel of the tractor, he also got a bruised lung. My brother can't remember it as he was unconscious for a brief period. My brother got out two days before his birthday, which is on christmas day. Thank God Monaghan hospital was there as he would not have made the 1 hour journey to Cavan. Berti, I nearly lost my big brother only for Monaghan hospital, if you take away our hospital some other girl may not be as lucky with her big brother. We are the people it concerns, its our lives you are meddling with.......
Story by Evey Francey

On the 3rd of January 2001 my mother fell down the steps outside our house which was covered in ice. My father brought her to monaghan hospital. Without them she could still be suffering from major back pain. If she had to go to Cavan she would have been in serious pain. Closing down Monaghan hospital and espically the A&E would cause a lot of pain. So please Taosaich we are begging you not to close our hospital.

It's very important to have a hospital in Monaghan town.If we do not have an accident and emergancy room people may die in the ambulance on the way to find a hospital to go to. We need a hospital!!!

Recently my brother got hit on the mouth with a golf stick while outplaying pitch and putt. We went to Monaghan Hospital. He got stiches in the mouth. Fortunately the hospital was open. If he was rushed to any other hospital, he would have lost so much blood he could have died.

As I walked down the street I saw my little sister lying on the ground. I rang for an ambulance. They told me the nearest hospital was Drogehda. I thought that monaghan hospital would take her in but they told me they would not. Mum would have to drive ALL that way. We NEED a hospital in Monaghan, even If it is only an accident and emergency. PLEASE!

On the 11th of October of this year my Mum woke up with terrible pain. She could hardly walk. She went to the doctors that morning, he said that it was apendicts or a burst cist. Obviously Monaghan Hospital was closed so she had go up to Cavan. She was in terrible pain and very unfortable, she had to sit in a wheelchair in the corridor for app. 3hrs. she wasn't seen for app. 4 hrs. This shows that there is hardly any beds in Cavan and too many in Monaghan. So I put it to you, Bertie, Save Monagahan Hospital.

It is important for us to have a hospital in Monaghan because if people have a bad accident they might suffer or even die when they have to go to another hospital. People will have to travel to go to Cavan a lot more.

It is important to have a hospital in Monaghan. One of my friends had a problem with breathing and her airways were closing down. Straight away, we had to drive her to Monaghan Hospital. If Monaghan Hospital hadn't been open then she probably still wouldn't be alive. We need the hospital.

About a year ago my sister was playing a basketball match. She sprained her ankle and was taken to Monaghan hospital. If Monaghan Hospital was closed she would have been in great pain and would have gone to Cavan in great pain.
So please Berti do not close Monaghan Genaral Hospital.

Last week I came across an accident on the Monaghan road. The people involed were critical . The nearest hospital was Drogheda. The driver died on the WAY. We NEED Monaghan Accident & Emergency PLEASE!

A month and a half ago my Great Granda, who was almost 92, fell down the stairs late one night. When my Uncle came home, he found granda at the bottom of the stairs in a pool of blood. The rest of the family was called and Granda was rushed to Monaghan General Hospital. He was in The Special Care Unit for 2 weeks. When he came home he was looked after by the family. He was at home for almost a week and then he gradually got worse, and died.
If it was not for Momaghan General Hospital and the caring Staff, my Granda would have most likely died the night he fell down the stairs. So this is proof that we need a hospital. And I am asking you personaly not to close the hospital.
Yours Faithfully, Rebekah McKInley

In reply to Ann we would offer the following answers:
Over the past number of years the North Eastern Health Board has reduced services in the hospital by stealth. They withheld needed investment and allowed the general condition of the hospital, both in material and human resources, to fall away with the result that the outside bodies, invoted by the Health Board, inspected the hospital and recommended the closure of certain services. As each service was removed this left the way open for another regulatory body to be invited in and they in turn also recommended the ceasation of another service. There was and no longer is: Maternity Services; Gynaecology services; Paediatric services; Acute surgery; and Post Mortems. After December 31st 2002 there will be no surgery except very minor work from 9 to 5 on weekdays. The Health Board has promised a 24hour 7day emergency and Acute Medical services but since these cannot be sustained withou acute surgical and 24hour anaesthetic cover the College of Physicians will recommend the closure of this service too and we are left with a Home for Senior Citizens who are not sick - end of story!!
At the moment the Conculstants in the Hospital are admitting patients who arrive in private transport and they are being treated. The Accident and Emergency is available but all of this is against the wishes of the Health Board and they have instructed all ambulance staff to take cases to any hospital but Monaghan. This causes a major problem for the ambulance crew. Forst f all they are not paramedics and cannot administer pain-relief or medication. Secondly they have difficulty finding a hospital which can take the patient as all hospitals are already full to capacity. Emergencies from Monaghan could end up in Cavan, Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin, Enniskillen, Craigavon or anywhere. Families of these patients are often unable to find which hospital their loved ones have been taken to as the decisio has been made while the ambulance is in transit.
However tis situation will change on January 1st because there will be no surgery in Monaghan they will not be able to admit patients at all, emergency or otherwise, and all cases will have to go to Drogheda - almost 2 hours away.
The last figures available for Monaghan A & E date from 2001 and are 12,500. However the Health Board will only give the figure of 3,500 as these were to the actual A & E Room. As the A & E Room was only available from 9 to 5 on weekdays all other attendees were brought to and treated in the Surgical ward, but the Health Board will not count these. This is a lower number than that for Cavan but we are adamant that it is sufficient to justify the Service in Monaghan because of the geological position of the hospital and because of the very poor infrastructure of roadway to the other hospitals. At the moment most call-out ambulances come from Monaghan but it is expected that there will be a new station in Cavan and that all ambulances will then come from the one depot.
If you take th figure of 12,500 and when you consider that the Medical Advisor to the Health Board agrees that for 5% of cases it could be too late for the pateint to be taken to Drogheda, then we are left with a staggering number of people whose lives will be at serious risk in an emergency. It has always been assumed that the 'Golden Hour' was vital for life-saving and recovery in emergency, but the Medical Advisor now states that that theory is no longer in vogue.
For and ambulance to take a patient from Knockatallon (one extremity of the region) to Monaghan hospital is 30 minutes from call-out; to go to Cavan would take 70 minutes and to go to Drogheda would take 100 minutes minimum, and remember the ambulance crew are not paramedics.
There are no airambulance facilities in Monaghan nor is one promised.
Regarding use of hospitals in Northern Ireland - there seems to be a similar move there to regionalise and to date Dungannon (nearest) has closed; Omagh is almost closed (35 minutes away. Enniskillen (6o minutes) and Craigavon (60 minutes) are the proposed major hospitals. There are negotiations in progress between the Health Boards from the two jurisdictions but we are unable to establish what the plan is. We do know that the Northern authorities are anxious to get work from the south. North Monaghan people could and can get treatment in Northern ireland but again in an emergency this will delay the treatment time beyond that golden hour, plus there is poor services between the two areas for visiting and other services. There was an arrangement prior to July 2nd 2002 whereby patient from the Craigavon area came to Monaghan for elective surgery and some test were carried out in Craigavon for Monaghan patients but that cannot continue now.
Monaghan County is full of high-risk industries, all of whom require 24-hour A & E within easy reach. If we have not A & E then these industries will have increased Insurance premiums, which they may not be able to pay and continue in business and for some they will have to relocate to the Craigavon area in order to comply with their Health and Safety requirements. This will be a major blow for the economy of Monaghan and many other businesses will suffer as a result. Agricultural accidents do occur and immediate hospital treatment is a must but again this will not be available from January 1st.
Our School children will have to go to Drogheda when they have an accident at school, however minor, and the parents will have to follow them in order to take them home after treatment.
Monaghan hosts a number of major sporting fixtures each year as well as a full programme in many and varied sports. All involved will now be at greater risk of they suffer an injury and again they will have to go to Drogheda for treatment.
The consequences go on and on and many people in Monaghan are still not fully aware of the seriousness of the situation.
Nor is this just a Monaghan issue - who knows when they will find themselves in the county and needing treatment? The National primary route (N2) passes through the county and has one of the highest records of fatal injuries, yet there will be no A & E between Derry and Dublin once Monaghan has been closed.
Hoping this answers some of your queries, Ann. Do keep in touch and any pressure that you can bring to bear will be welcome.

Thanks to all who have sent words of encouragement and offers of assistance. Things are so busy at the moment that it is very difficult to answer each individually and immediately. Members of the Community Alliance have had six meetings in the past week and will have six more in the coming week. Some of these have been in Monaghan but we have also been in Kells and Dublin for further meetings. The Friends of Monaghan Hospital in Dublin are doing great work to apply pressure and assist our efforts in Monaghan. We are delighted to hear from Ann, who is trying to set up a lobby group in London, and is raising awareness there. You have many questions and we will try to get the answers to you as soon as possible. Thanks to Padraig for your offer and we will be in touch with you soon too. If you would like to attend our meeting on Thursday Nov 14th in the Hillgrove at 8.00p.m please feel free to do so.
Regarding the Letter writing - what we would like is as follows: Write a short letter to the Taoiseach expressing your disgust at the Health Board proposals and asking the Taoiseach to intervene and restore the required services to Monaghan. Make ten copies and ask friends or neighbours to sign one of them and address an envelope to An Taoiseach, Dáil Eireann, Dublin. Then make sure you post off the ten letters. If you could do this one day per week for the next six weeks it would ensure a constant barrage of letters to the Taoiseach on a daily basis. It makes little difference what day you post as people will, by chance, post on different days.
Don' forget to send an E-Card to an Taoiseach while you are on this site. Go to Postcard Campaign page and it is very easy to do.
We would also like to gather more horror stories of the experiences people have had by having to travel to other hospitals etc. For example we had a case of a man who was injured in Dublin Street, Monaghan, last week. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Drogheda. After four hours waiting he received three stitches and was told to make his own way home. What a waste of time and resources.
We also had Patrick from Emyvale, who suffered a Heart attack on the roadway. An ambulance took him to Cavan against his own wishes. In Clones the ambulance crew had to call out the doctor 'on-call' who met the ambulance at Legekelly and treated Patrick, who suffered a second heart attack at Clones. Had he been taken to Monaghan he more than likely would not have had that second attack and less damage would have been done to his heart. We wish Patrick a very speedy recovery.
If you have a story to tell, please get in touch with us.
Peadar McMahon.

Mr. Peader McMahon
Chairman
County Monaghan Alliance

Dear Peader,

After attending your meeting in the Hillgrove Hotel last night, I did not
realize how important the issues on hand really where. I have had the use of
the hospital for my own good proving not the least to be a very deciding
factor in the life I live today. Without any further comment I would like to
offer my services to the committee in whatever capacity I can in the future.

Padraig McGeough,
Emyvale

I understand that Mairead McKenna (Mullinacask) has been in touch with you recently about our concerns regarding Monaghan Hospital. I am a sister of MaireadÅfs husband Paddy and although I live in England my husband and I spend a fair time each year with relations and friends in Monaghan & who knows we might retire there one day! We want to help the cause of saving or restoring the services offered by Monaghan and feel passionate about it.
Thank you for the details regarding your website which we have now thoroughly digested.
For your information, Paudge Connelly was recently on the telephone to discuss the current situation in response to a letter I sent to him recently.
We need your advice as to the best way forward to support you all. Publicity seems to be a strong weapon and perhaps letters from us, to say, the Irish Times, Northern Standard in Ireland and the Irish Post and Anglo-Celt over here in England (what are your thoughts ?)
We are very happy to write such letters if you feel this would help. We will need to be factually very accurate to have any credibility so perhaps you could help us with the following questions (or if you are unable to answer yourself then perhaps you could point us to someone that can preferably with an email address).
I believe that any letter from us must focus on the major issues and be factually accurate: I believe they are:-
Electable Accountability of the NEHB to the people of Monaghan:
Ireland is perhaps different from most other European countries where the electorate appoint politicians who are in turn directly and ultimately responsible for the health service. In Ireland the introduction by a high court judge of the Regional Health Boards (not sure when this occurred) each with their own CEO has left the patients they serve feeling that they have lost control albeit that the politicians that are elected are represented on the Health Boards; the ultimate power is with the CEO. The normal democratic process of expressing concern and suggested action to the TD is not entirely the answer, since the buck doesnÅft stop there. Is it possible for the people of Ireland to go back and reinstate a system based on electable accountability to the people they serve.
Questions
1. Is this in your view a point worth making ?
Monaghan Closures
<sum> Accident and Emergency Unit
<sum> Maternity Unit
<sum> Post Mortem Facilities
<sum> Obstetrics and Gynaecology Services Effectively Closed
<sum> Dermatology, Surgical, Pain Clinic
I canÅft say too much on these topics until I have more factual information. Can you help ?
Questions
1. Has the A&E Department closed down fully yet?
2. If so when is this scheduled ?
3. If it is a phased closure what & when are the major milestones towards closure. My understanding is that for someone in trouble in North Monaghan an ambulance will come out from Monaghan but take the patient to Cavan Hospital although if the same patient were brought to Monaghan Hospital by private car the patient would be accepted. My understanding is also that from January 2003 no accident and emergency patients will be accepted at Monaghan at all. Is this correct?
4. What are the annual total number of accident and emergencies in the Monaghan Hospital catchment area ? Is the trend increasing or decreasing from previous years? How do these figures compare to other Counties eg annual accident and emergencies per Åe000 population Galway, Limerick etc.?
5. Will emergency ambulances continue to operate out of Monaghan Hospital (or will they have to come out from Cavan?)
6. What is the official distance/time taken
ß Auchnacloy Bridge (Border)_ Monaghan
ß Auchnacloy Bridge (Border)-Cavan
7. How many Ambulance crews are available in
ß Monaghan of which how many are paramedics ?
ß Cavan of which how many are paramedics ?
8. Do either Monaghan or Cavan have Air Ambulance facilities available to them now or proposed for the near future?
North South Health Collaboration
Questions
1. Where are the nearest Hospitals in the North.
a. Armagh ?
b. Dungannon ? (I think this has closed)
c. Omagh ?
d. Enniskillen ?
e. Any Others ?
2. Did the Good Friday Agreement call for Health service provision for the whole of Ireland. (I believe food & fisheries and security were cross border but IÅfm not certain about Health). Can you clarify the situation?
3. Is there a case for the people of North Monaghan looking for health provision in the North and vice versa or is this simply out of the question ? Was this part of a plan now shelved?

General Questions
1. What is the catchment area for Monaghan Hospital in terms of
a. Area in Square Miles
b. Population
2. Are there any guidelines (European, Irish) regarding the justification of a hospital
a. Maximum area/population
b. Minimum area/population
3. Is Monaghan Hospital actually being made into a glorified Health centre rather than a Hospital? Is there any insider information who might suggest this ?
I look forward to hearing from you soon
Kind Regards
Ann Appleby (RGN. DN.)

Dear Sir / Madam,

Firstly I would like to say how delighted I was to see such a huge crowd attend last nights meeting the Hillgrove and compliment all of you on the hard working commitee fighting on behalf of all the people of Monaghan to save our hospital.

While talking to people after the meeting I deffinitely got the feeling that there should be another demonstration marched arranged for Dublin City Centre. It is unforunate that the 8th of December the traditional Christmas shopping day falls on a Sunday as this would have being the ideal day for such a rally, but any day in December will cause enough disruption and let the people of Monaghan's voices be heard nationally.

I have put my name forward for the letter campain for the 14.11.02 for the Threemilehouse area, if at all possible could you please email me a draft of a letter so I can get it typed up and go around my neighbours.

If I can be of any further help in organising anything for the Threemilehouse area please do not hesitate to contact me either at my email Threemilehouse@hotmail.com or my house number is 042 97 44120.

Thank you and kind regards

Mary Prunty

My story is not strictly atypical or out of the ordinary, it is one of ordinary family shattered by circumstance, a story that may escalate and be repeated again and again.
Three years ago whilst abroad my son and I had the experience of seeing a wife and mother die in front of us. There was nothing we could do to help her. We were alone,abroad in a remote area of Europe.
The nearest hospital was less than an hour away. The local hospital was 15 minutes away but that had been closed just the year before. To this day we ponder the ifs and maybes of what may have been if that hospital was still open, perhaps, perhaps not. So we came back to Ireland, to try and rebuild our lives.
Today, I cannot help feel a sense of deja vu. Our local hospital practically closed. The only way to the nearest hospital is up a dreadful set of roads, which I travel on a daily basis to get to and from work. A road that is populated by stray cattle, tractors driven by persons in a state of suspepended animation oblivious to other road users with or without blue flashing lights. Where the average driver takes his/her life in their hands thanks to the attentions of lunatic drivers who seem to haunt that road, which is governed by two states.
At the risk of provoking providence, I am looking at the possibility of the remnants of our family disintegrating completely, if either of the two of us are seriously ill or hurt.I feel the impossible is been made possible by the NEHB and their allies in goernment. My child is in real danger of becoming an orphan, or our family disappearing altogether. We are seriously thinking of moving, possibly abroad, to preserve us as a family.The chances of an emergency making Cavan in a hurry is slim or within the laughable concept of the "golden hour", not that up that Godforsaken road.
I do not expect heartless bureaucrats like You Mr. Ahern or You Mr Martin and the rest of your cronies to learn anything from a mere citizen's tale of a first hand experience of the "nightmare Scenario" the alliance talks about so freely.
IT HAPPENED TO US!!!

When our first son was born, it was crucial that a surgical team was on hand: as I was in labour for several hours, and only when a senior doctor diagnosed that my baby was in distress, I was rushed to the theatre and there 10 mins later our son was born healthy and unaware of the trauma and danger that he would have been in if he had not been saved by those wonderful mirical workers.

Our sincere thanks goes out to the surgical and materity staff in Monaghan hospital, which are all a must for the hospital.

Between 1993 and 2000 we have 3 healthy and lovely sons, thanks to the surgical and materity staff.

I know if had to go to Cavan hospital for those maternity visits, it would have caused me and my family alot of unnecessary distress and I would not have had the visits and regular support from our visitors.

I personally think that every County should have a County Hospital!!!

I wish the retention committee all the success in saving our hospital and you all can count on our support.

Let there be Hope

I recently had an OPD appointment to see Dr. Hussain in the Cavan Gynie. department.

My appointment was for 11 o'clock on Wednesday 4th September. My name was eventually called out at 1.05, only to be told to go to a different area to wait there, so I did. Then at 2.05 I was called to see the doctor, who I presumed would be Dr. Hussain, but it was one of his junior doctors.

So I left the Hospital at 2.30 in the afternoon.

When I left Monaghan at 10.00 I didn't think for one minute that I would get back to my work at 3.30 in the afternoon.

I think that it is a disgrace that I and other people like myself have to travel to Cavan wait that lenght of time only to be seen by a junior doctor that tells me to come back in 6 weeks.

If this service was available in Monaghan it would save a lot of Monaghan women alot of anxiety.

Presentation To Minister Michael Martin T.D. - January 2002

Monaghan General Hospital was founded in the 1930’s. the hospial was built by the people of Monaghan, through the levying of an extra sum on their domestic rates bill over a number of years. The hospital was like many other County Hospitals managed by Monaghan County Council and was regarded in it’s early years as being one of the premier medical facilities on the island of Ireland. Indeed this proud tradition remained largely unchallenged until the hospital was merged as part of a Cavan Monaghan Hospital group. This is somewhat significant as the people of Cavan were offered the same opportunity to build a hospital at the time the Monaghan people funded their own, but they chose rather to wait and some years later and the state eventually built a modern facility in Cavan.

Many had hoped that at the time of the development of a new Cavan Hospital that it might be situated in Cootehill and thus would serve equally the needs of both counties, however it is felt that political will swung the day and a new facility was built in Cavan Town as an ‘equal partner’ to the Monaghan Site. Since the establishment of the new facility in Cavan attempts were made to close down Monaghan Hospital as it was seen as being surplus to requirements. A successful legal campaign halted this challenge to the Monaghan Hospital and one might have been forgiven for believing that the unit had been secured.

The last number of years have proved that that is not the case and the NEHB through their actions have indicated that they intend closing services in Monaghan General Hospital down on a systematic basis. It appears that if the hospital could not be killed quickly, then the powers that be will let it die slowly, by increment and through stealth and deviousness.

In the last twelve months the following steps have been taken to ensure the long term downgrading of Monaghan General to the role of a glorified Doctors surgery.
‘Suspension’ of Maternity services on foot of a letter from NEHB to Irish Public Bodies.
A cessation of services in the hospitals Operating Theatre.
Closure of the Post Mortem Facility at Monaghan General Hospital.
Reduction in A & E services at the hospital.
Imminent Cessation of Gynecological Services at Monaghan Site.

The reason behind many of these decisions has been spurious at best. All were carried out by the NEHB in the name of ‘protecting the best interests of the people of Monaghan’. However with the instance of A & E, it appears that different rules apply here to other hospitals in the country when it comes to supervision of non – EU doctors. Even more damning has been the boards decision to axe Gynecology on the basis of insufficient staff, when a number of doctors were placed on short contract and despite requests did not have those contracts renewed. In addition to this a number of senior doctors have been instructed that they may no longer offer a Gynecological service at Monaghan despite their wishes to do so. In total 6 doctors have been ordered for one reason or another not to offer a service and yet the NEHB cannot staff this service.

More bizarre in the case of Gynecology was that for the majority of the time in which this service was operating in Monaghan, it was doing so with greater efficacy and with higher output than was the case of the same service at our sister hospital in Cavan. Yet the cuts were made at Monaghan General. Absolutely nothing strange about that?

At the end of last week it was pleasant to note that Monaghan General was receiving an allocation of ten new beds. What soured this happy note for many was to find out on Friday that five beds were being removed from the Gynecology Unit. This kind of thing has a habit of happening in Monaghan.
The NEHB called on the Department in 2001, for funding to improve facilities in the A & E Unit in Monaghan and were indeed granted a sum of money to do this. In the last fortnight despite this grant we lost part of our A & E service. Last year when we were facing the closure of Maternity Services at Monaghan General, we were as a community given assurances that other services were not under threat and indeed that over _7 million (that’s in old money), was supposed to be invested in developing services at Monaghan. A brief trip around the facility indicates that there may have been some difficulty in drawing down that money, or that whoever is spending it doesn’t seem to be getting fantastic value for money.
One thing in all of this stands out, that is that some one or some body has a specific agenda regarding the long term future of Monaghan General Hospital. It also appears that whoever this is, is not being entirely frank with the elected representatives from Monaghan on the NEHB or with the people of Monaghan as a whole. Finally it is clear that the actions of this body are set against the best interest of this County. This is indeed an act of betrayal of trust.
Planning In The Twenty First Century. Guiding Principals.
Rural Proofing
Poverty Proofing
Spatial PlanningMonaghan A Brief Check Up.

A Business Perspective.
Whereas we as an organization recognize that other bodies and groups within this community can speak with more authority and more experience on the subject of healthcare provision, we feel that there is an aspect to this debate which in terms of the bigger picture must be analysed by government, one which we are uniquely placed to put forward. The argument in question relates to the economic fallout for Monaghan given the continuing reduction in service at Monaghan General Hospital.

There are two principal issues at stake with regard to the economic fallout from closure of services at Monaghan General Hospital. The first of these refers to the highly topical area of Health and Safety in the workplace. While many improvements have been made in this regard in the last decade and while best practice is becoming more widespread, accidents will happen. Often with disastrous consequences for those involved.
The profile of our economy makes accidents even more likely than in other counties as the economy of County Monaghan is comprised to a large degree of high labour intensity manufacturing processes. These manufacturing facilities where heavy machinery is commonplace tend to lend themselves more to accidents in the workplace. The provision of a top quality medical facility in the immediate hinterland can make the difference between an accident being an inconvenience or becoming a tragedy. The down grading of A & E potentially adds another hour to the duration that it will take a victim to receive proper medical care that hour might be critical in saving a limb or a life.

The fact of having to travel a further distance for resultant outpatient care, not only is a drain on the local economy but is also a burden on the injured who can no longer rely on a service close to home when they require it most.

Whatever burden this loss of service may cause to existing companies, it will harm our economy in another potentially more serious way. Monaghan has an unenviable record in terms of inward investment over the decades. North County Monaghan in particular is nearly unique in all Ireland in having failed to secure one IDA supported job through direct foreign investment. The principal reason for this over the years has been the proximity of this town to the border and the perception of those foreign investors that we were too close to ‘the troubles’.

The IDA are beginning the process of developing an advance factory in Monaghan with the aim of introducing much needed new blood into an economy which has been rocked by the loss of a number of major industries in the last years (Pattons & Monaghan Poultry Products) and whose indigenous industries are coming under increasing threat. The job of the IDA and other economic development organizations such as Enterprise Ireland, Monaghan Chamber and Monaghan County Enterprise Board will become virtually impossible were the Monaghan General Hospital facility to be further downgraded.

It is an oft quoted fact by the officials of the IDA that facilities such as Healthcare facilities and Educational facilities are primary determining factors which larger investors will examinie in making their decision to locate in a given area. The continued attack on Monaghan General Hospital is an assault on the future economic survival of this town. This is the bigger picture.

While we accept that the NEHB has no mandate to examine the bigger picture the government has not only a mandate but also a responsibility to do so. Decisions taken by government are by necessity holistic if they are to be properly thought out. Now is the time for government to see the bigger picture.

A Role in The Border Region.
We have already alluded in this submission to a need for proper Spatial Planning, elsewhere we mentioned the consequences (economically) of being in a border location. Now is the time to re – visit these concepts because they offer in many ways a role for the future of services at Monaghan General.

The Good Friday agreement and in particular the inception of the ‘cross border bodies’ has opened up a range of possibilities for co – operation between the two states on this island. Monaghan is uniquely placed to play a part in developing this co-operation in a meaningful way, not least in the area of healthcare.

At present, as a result of centralization of services in Northern Ireland, large areas of South Tyrone and Armagh remain far from their nearest major hospital, that being Craigavon. This significant body of people are in need of a solution to their primary healthcare needs. In a number of cases, through co – operation, this problem could be solved by developing and utilizing the existing facility at Monaghan General Hospital.

Positive feedback has already come from politicians north of the border, indicating that this idea could be made to work if the political will existed on this side of the border. The two government departments already seem to enjoy close relations, there seems little reason why this can not be given a tangible expression. However further moves to downgrade facilities in Monaghan, will mean this opportunity will be lost at it’s ,ost suitable venue on either side of the bord.

A Gesture of Good Faith.
The time has come for the government and specifically the Department of Health to nail it’s colours to the mast and to declare what it’s stated policy is regarding Monaghan General Hospital. This government has claimed to support the development of facilities at the hospital in the past and yet here we are again, fighting over the loss of services.

The Minister has the power under legislation dating back to 1970 to intervene with the running of health services by the NEHB. This is crucial, otherwise we would have to question the nature of our democracy, where two civil servants can decide policy against the wishes of the elected representatives of the people. Even if this act were not there, the Minister for Health is the pay master of the health boards and in such matters only a naïve believes that money does not talk.
The people of our county now want action from the Government on this matter. We are demanding that our hospital, the hospital we built and gave in trust to the state to run be returned to a state which is befitting the title General Hospital. We are demanding that the government no longer condones the manner in which trained and dedicated staff, who wish to protect the health of the community in which they serve are undermined by the body that employs them, through constant cuts. We are asking the Government to act in good faith.
As a gesture of this good faith we are calling for the immediate re – instatement of gynecology services at Monaghan General. This re – instatement is not difficult and can be achieved by re – appointing the doctors whose contracts were not renewed by the NEHB and by putting back the beds removed last week.
We are also calling for the restoration and promised development of A & E services at the site. This will entail a modest investment in developing a better facility and the hiring of 3 Regustrars and 4 Senior Health Officers. All of which can be achieved without the authority of Comhairle na Ospideal, lest that be in question.
These two steps can be achieved within a matter of a few months and would spell out the governments commitment to the Hospital. Should such a commitment not be forthcoming, the government of the day will be seen as complicit in the act of betrayal cited above.

I wish to put on record my thanks and appreciation for the surgeon, Mr. McMullan, doctors, nurses, day & night staff of Monaghan General Hospital.
Early in January 2002 I was admitted to Monaghan General Hospital and had to have major surgery – in fact, the actual operation lasted from 3:00pm to approx. 8:00pm. This was the second time I had major surgery in Monaghan General Hospital inside two years and I must point out that it was so important that Monaghan General Hospital had the skill of Surgeon and support team, facilities and equipment to carry out these operations.
I must emphasise how convenient and comforting it was for me that my family could visit me every day. My sister, who lives with me, was able to visit me daily, whenever I was in Intensive Care and sometimes two or three times per day for the seven weeks of my hospitalisation. My sisters, living in Bangor, had to make a three-hour journey to visit. If I had been a patient in Cavan General Hospital these visits would have been impossible and it would have put another hour to the journey my sisters from Bangor would have had to make.
In January, 2002, while I was still a patient in Monaghan General Hospital, the Minister for Health, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., visited and I personally asked him whether or not he would close the hospital and he assured me in that Hospital Wart that "it would not close". Naturally, like thousands in Monaghan I am very worried, disappointed and disgusted the way things have gone.
I take the opportunity to thank the various committees who are trying so hard to keep our Hospital and would encourage everyone to support them in their ongoing efforts.