A MANAGEMENT MEETING of the HSE Mid West this morning heard that it is taking some staff up to six hours to make it to and from work as a result of the fuel protests.

The HSE Mid West covers Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.

In an email sent to members of the government, which has been seen by The Journal, it was noted that there is a “significant level of concern” among management, staff and patients.

These concerns include difficulties for emergency services in navigating road blockages, as well as “severe delays for staff travelling to and from work”.

This morning’s meeting heard that journeys are taking between four and six hours, rather than the “usual 30 minutes”.

Patients are also unable to attend critical appointments and the meeting heard reports that several petrol stations close to University Hospital Limerick, the only acute hospital in the HSE region, are out of fuel.

The meeting heard that fuel shortages at forecourts have “serious implications for staff, patients, and emergency services”.

The email sent to government figures said this is just a “few of the highlights of our current challenges” and called for “support in highlighting our staff and patient voices during this difficult period”.

The email added that HSE staff are “implementing all necessary mitigations to maintain staff and patient safety”.

It comes as health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the chief executive officer of the HSE, Anne O’Connor, called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear for emergency service access and for patients attending medical appointments.

They emphasised the need to ensure that staff, including those who work in hospitals and those treating people in their homes or in community settings, can get to work and treat their patients.

The joint statement added: “Attending hospital or receiving treatment in the community, whether in an emergency situation or for a routine appointment, is a vulnerable time for a patient and their family.

“Please respect the critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services, to ensure that access to care is never compromised.”