Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
60. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the services provided at local hospitals, such as Monaghan hospital, in view of the additional pressures other centres will inevitably face in the coming period. [23657/20]
View answerMonaghan Hospital is part of the Cavan & Monaghan Hospital in the RCSI Hospitals Group. Together they share an integrated managerial and clinical governance system, as well as integrated patient care pathways and support functions.
The Smaller Hospitals Framework identifies the activities that can be performed in Model 2 hospitals, like Monaghan Hospital. It provides for a stronger role for smaller hospitals, such as Monaghan Hospital, in delivering a higher volume of less complex care, often closer to a patient’s home. It also ensures that patients who require emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in a larger hospital environment.
The Cavan & Monaghan Hospital Emergency Department is located in Cavan, with facilities in Monaghan focused on elective care and the appropriate streaming of patients to the Minor Injuries Unit. These Minor Injury Units help to provide valuable services to local communities and alleviate the pressures on Emergency Departments; this will prove to be especially vital in the coming months.
Other services provided at Monaghan Hospital include day services, theatre, diagnostic services, ambulatory care and a wide range of out-patient services. It also has 20 rehabilitation in-patient beds and 11 step-down beds, providing an invaluable service to patients following discharge from acute hospital services.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented interruption to normal health services. The HSE continues to plan for the challenges of providing health services in the Covid-19 environment and the Cavan & Monaghan Hospital will continue to play a critical role in the implementation of these plans.
