KNOCK-ON EFFECT:THE HSE has said that no significant delays arose yesterday following the closure of the accident and emergency department at Roscommon County Hospital. It also denied that the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar had closed its emergency department yesterday due to excess demand.
A spokeswoman for HSE Dublin Mid Leinster said that, due to some outdoor events in the Mullingar area in recent days, the AE department was “quite busy” for a time yesterday morning.
“Because the A&E was busy ambulance cases were diverted to other hospitals,” the spokeswoman said, adding that this was normal practice around the State.
“Mullingar went back to accepting ambulance cases at around 3pm or 3.30pm,” she added. The spokeswoman said the diversions from Mullingar hospital “cannot be attributed in any way to the closure of Roscommon A&E”, adding that only two people had been admitted from Roscommon by yesterday evening.
A spokesman for HSE West said that, as of 4pm yesterday, five patients were brought by ambulance “from various locations in Co Roscommon”. One was taken to University Hospital Galway, one to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar and one was brought to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, while two patients were taken to Sligo General Hospital.
HSE West regional director of operations John Hennessy said: “Feedback from the other hospitals in the HSE West network this afternoon indicates that today’s changes have not had a significant impact on their emergency departments.” However, John McDermott of the Roscommon Hospital Action committee said that, just two hours after closing Roscommon A&E at 8am, the HSE had to call in a private ambulance service to deal with demand.