CONSULTANT MEDICAL staff at Cork University Hospital (CUH)last night issued a statement in support of a colleague who was critical of patient care at the hospital. This came after hospital management publicly rejected the doctor's criticisms.
Consultant medical staff at the hospital held an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon, and afterwards issued a statement saying they shared the frustration felt by consultant plastic surgeon Dr Jason Kelly and supported his concern about improving patient care.
Dr Kelly expressed his concern in an e-mail sent to hospital management in May regarding the treatment of a 42-year-old woman admitted with a full-thickness burn to her left breast and armpit whom he alleged was left without morphine and inadequate dressings.
Dr Kelly also expressed concerns about the case of a 70-year-old woman requiring amputation of her left arm whom, he said, was left waiting for more than five hours to be admitted to theatre for a skin graft.
Dr Kelly's colleagues said yesterday that they fully accepted his assurance that he did not leak the e-mail which was copied to 30 senior hospital staff when he sent it to hospital management in May.
They also rejected an explanation given by CUH management whom they said "have failed to address the real issues identified" by Dr Kelly.
In addition, they called on HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm to carry out a "root and branch review" of management at CUH.
CUH general manager Tony McNamara last night acknowledged the statement by the consultants, but stood over his assertion that the facts in relation to the two patients highlighted by Dr Kelly in his e-mail were incorrect.
Mr McNamara said there were 3,500 staff working at CUH, and "each and every one of them are committed to ensuring the best possible care is given to all our patients". He also pointed out that the hospital operates regular reviews of its practices.
"This process enables incidents and issues to be reviewed, the facts established, and any necessary steps taken to address these issues. Additionally, all complaints from patients, family members and staff are dealt with in line with the HSE complaints policy."
Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses Organisation said last night that 61 nursing vacancies at CUH made it an "extremely difficult working environment".