As the number of treatments postponed because of the junior doctors' strike continue to rise, so does the prospect of serious health consequences for some of those affected, the Irish Patients' Association has warned, writes Frank McNally
While the hospitals at the centre of the dispute guaranteed that all emergency cases would be dealt with, the association said many appointments being deferred were for first time visits to a consultant, following referral by a GP. The full seriousness of a patient's condition might not be known in such cases. The IPA also pointed out that the postponements included investigative procedures necessary to diagnosis such as bronchoscopies, or colonoscopies.
The Midlands Health Board confirmed that these are among the appointments affected. Speaking on RTÉ radio, the board's regional manager, Mr John Bulfin, said "invasive diagnostic procedures helpful for diagnosis" were among those postponed, along with such elective surgeries as hip and knee replacements. Some 400 outpatient visits and 123 elective surgery procedures would be affected at Tullamore General Hospital this week, he said. But he added that cases were being monitored "hour by hour" to ensure all emergencies were dealt with.
Waterford Regional Hospital called off 21 surgical procedures yesterday, and 164 out-patient visits. The regional manager of the South Eastern Health Board, Mr Peter Finnegan, said he hoped no lives were being endangered, but added that patients' health was best protected by a fully-functioning system. "Any deviation from that will naturally not guarantee [patient safety] to the same level as if it was working normally."
In a statement, the SEHB called on the IMO to withdraw the industrial action "and prevent further suffering and distress to patients and their families".
Its spokesman, Mr Stephen McMahon added that the stress of patients gearing themselves up for surgery, only to have it postponed, was in many cases exacerbated by the special arrangements they had to make with family members for the duration of their expected stays in hospital.