Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
804. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from clinicians at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on the status of the Emergency Department at Navan Hospital in 2022, if so, the number of clinicians who signed any correspondence; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39355/22]
View answer805. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from clinicians at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the status of the Emergency Department at Navan Hospital in 2022, if so, the number of clinicians who signed any correspondence; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39356/22]
View answer821. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the CEO of the HSE on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39386/22]
View answer822. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from the National Clinical Director of the HSE on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital to date in 2022; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39387/22]
View answer823. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the Clinical Director of the RCSI Hospital Group on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39388/22]
View answer824. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the manager of Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39389/22]
View answer825. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the manager of Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39390/22]
View answer826. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he received correspondence from the manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital in 2022; if so, the date that the correspondence was received; the form of correspondence; the nature of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39391/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 804, 805, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825 and 826 together.
The following correspondence has been received regarding the status of the Emergency Department in Our Lady's Hospital Navan (OLHN) in 2022:
- A letter from a clinician working in OLHN on 15th June 2022, offering their perspective of working in the hospital;
- A letter signed by the Manager , Clinical Director, Director of Nursing and the Patient Safety and Operations Manager of OLHN on the 7th of July reiterating the risks associated with critically ill patients presenting to the emergency department at OLHN;
- A letter signed by 17 clinicians working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the 27th of June 2022. This expressed concern at the impact that the proposed reconfiguration of Navan Hospital would have on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda;
- A letter signed by six physicians in the Royal College of Surgeons' Ireland Hospital Group on the 1st July 2022. This letter also highlighted the potential impact of the proposed reconfiguration of OLHN on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
I can confirm that no correspondence specific to the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital has been received from the CEO of the HSE. I can also confirm that I have no record of correspondence on this matter from the National Clinical Director of the HSE, the Clinical Director of the RCSI or the manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
While the very real clinical concerns identified by the HSE are recognised, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.
I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed within a matter of weeks.
