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LAST UPDATE | 30 Aug 2024
DOCTORS HAVE SAID that people’s health is being put at risk because patients can no longer be referred to the cardiology department at Cavan and Monaghan Hospital.
GPs in both counties have been asked to stop referring cardiology patients to the hospital, but say they have not been given an alternative option.
In an email sent to GPs yesterday afternoon, the HSE stated: “This is to inform you that, effective immediately, Cavan and Monaghan Hospital will no longer accept new cardiology referrals.
“We understand the importance of continuity in patient care and we are committed to minimising any disruptions during this transition. Please rest assured that we are actively working to appoint a replacement consultant as soon as possible.”
The email, seen by The Journal, states that doctors will be notified “promptly” once a new cardiology consultant has been appointed, at which time the hospital will resume accepting referrals.
“In the meantime, we encourage you to consider alternative arrangements for your patients’ cardiology needs. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this period and are grateful for your continued support,” the email adds.
Dr Illona Duffy, a GP based in Monaghan, said doctors’ main concern is that patients could deteoritate and, in some cases, die.
Speaking to The Journal today, she said: “Obviously if patients aren’t being seen within an appropriate timeframe, [their] problem is going to deteriorate, and ultimately they’re going to end up in hospital.
“So, what are we doing? We’re trying to have them seen [by a specialist] so we can see, can we stop a heart attack happening?
Can we stop you dying? Can we stop you ending up in heart failure?
“We know that early intervention for all of these things is vital. Absolutely we can [stop someone dying], but we need to have specialist input.”
Duffy said patients who need to be referred to a cardiologist include people who’ve had heart attacks in the past, or who have conditions like angina or an irregular heart rhythm.
They need specialist monitoring, meaning they need to be under the care of the cardiologist.
Duffy said it is normal for doctors to move on to another job but that a plan should be in place so, when this happens, vital services can continue instead of stopping abruptly.
Duffy said it will likely take months to fill the consultant vacancy. She said she and other GPs in the area have not been told where to refer patients to in the meantime.
“We don’t know where we’re meant to refer to because, again, we already know that most services tend to be quite territorial about accepting referrals outside what they see as their catchment areas. Are we to refer to Dublin? Are we to refer to Drogheda? We don’t know.”
When asked for comment by The Journal, the HSE said it was a matter for the RCSI Hospital Group.
A spokesperson for the RCSI group said that Cavan and Monaghan Hospital has “issued correspondence to the local GPs regarding the pathways for cardiology patients”.
The spokesperson said that emergency cardiology patients will continue to be managed within the Emergency Department or the Medical Assessment Unit “with referrals to tertiary sites as required”.
They added that patients can be referred to the General Medicine Outpatient Department “where general cardiology will be triaged and reviewed as appropriate”.
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Yay Ireland…
A step in the right direction at least
Anyone else notice that it’s one of the most positive stories of the day but only has 3 comments ?
It’s a nothing auction Kieran.. Extremely small potatoes.
Greece & Portugal have been offering short term bills since they went into their programs.
And we as a nation love our negativity !!
This is a wonderful expression of confidence on the long long road we have all travelled together with some suffering more than others. As economic performance is more frequently associated with positive sentiment lets push the usual Journal naysayers and prophets of doom to one side and together say………….YEAHHHHHHHHHHH GO GO GO IRELAND!
Think there need’s to be a counter balance to the supposed euphoria – Thankfully Constantin has plenty to say on this sale of ‘new’ stamps; rather they are of little value to overall effectiveness of any real bond sale and the effects of this are overrated – more spin I’m afraid.
http://trueeconomics.blogspot.ie/2012/07/372012-curb-your-enthusiasms.html
“The people and the economy can only wax fat and prosperous when their government is starved and puny.” – Murray Rothbard
@martincrettinnnPlease just this once..,,be happy a small step in the right direction and not 5 back as usual!!
Its not even a step be real!
Ahem ahem..I was waiting for the cheer-leading on this -
Now, I recall a certain Minister Bruton, 1 week before the Fiscal Treaty Referendum , stating “we don’t want to have to go to the LOAN SHARKS that are the Bond Markets ” !!!!!!!
And now we are supposed to celebrate going to the loan sharks again!?!? Just shows you the Crap that politicians will spin in an attempt to bully/ frighten people!!
I’d like to understand the rational behind the red thumbs!!???? I just highlighted a FACTUAL piece!
The mind boggles
Like his other quote best when referring to the State as – “a gang of thieves writ large” – no truer word said when considering the payment of bondholders over the welfare of the countries inhabitants and the forced nature in bringing about the household charge.
Yes. We should just try surviving on words and fresh air.
It’s the wrong words – uttered by so called intellectuals – that ruined this countries prospects in the first place – so we best watch the ones we use! So really where are you heading with such brief comment
If we had chosen not to honour the debts we have taken on, the welfare of the most vulnerable or our citizens would have been the most severely impacted.
All you have to offer to replace the money we have been lent is words and fresh air.
I’d like to return to the markets with a shrunken senior civil service sector; that way the markets would understand the country has its fiscal priorities in order -and then lend us the dosh!!!
Ahh nice one Ireland back to the markets, what are they selling, fruit & veg, clothes ???, ah sure its probably that cheap booze centra were trying to sell.
Do people want to return to the markets with a bloated public sector? We will still be under savage budgets to keep the lemmings overpaid.
If the government is fully funded until next year why on earth are they making this mickey mouse play?
To prove they can. Until now, they couldn’t. The yields may also change on the day, up or down, depending on sentiment. So it is a useful exercise.
Ireland will make it – I ALWAYS believed it! Irish are amazing in surviving and getting the head up again! YOU GO EIRE!!!!
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