Published: Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009 5:00pm

Health Forum news

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CT scanner for Monaghan

A new CT scanner will be installed in Monaghan General Hospital in near future according to the interim hospital network manager of the HSE Dublin North East, Willie Rattigan.

He told Cllr. Brian McKenna from Monaghan at the bi-monthly meeting the Health Forum that a procurement process had been undertaken and the recommendation was currently being finalised. A decision would be approved in the near future.

Cllr. McKenna stated that the scanner had been promised in the North East Transformation Programme and to date it had not been installed. He told the meeting that the scanner was available and was being held in storage on the outskirts of the town. "Monaghan have been promised this scanner for a long time and it is time it was installed. The people of Monaghan are entitled to it. I welcome the announcement and look forward to it being installed."

Additional ambulance for fleet

Since the transfer of acute services from Monaghan to Cavan, only one additional ambulance has been added to the fleet covering whole of the North East it was revealed at the November meeting of the Health Forum.

Willie Rattigan, interim hospital network manager, informed Cllr. Brian McKenna that there were now 14 emergency ambulances during daytime and ten during night hours based at Cavan, Monaghan, Dundalk, Drogheda, Ardee, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Virginia. "There are two patient transport vehicles available to assist in inter hospital transfers."

Previously there were 13 emergency ambulances during daytime and ten during night hours. "However, there is a Rapid Response Vehicle available during day and night time hours staffed by an advanced paramedic within the Monaghan area," he added. Mr. Rattigan said there were also four patient transport vehicles available to assist in inter hospital transfers.

Raising the issue Cllr. McKenna enquired if all ambulances were fitted with sat-nav systems as there was an situation recently where one was looking for a house in an estate in Monaghan town and drove around for half an hour trying to locate it. The ambulance passed the house on three occasions before finding it. Stephen Mulvany, hospital network manager, North East, told the Monaghan representative that each ambulance was fitted with a tracking device but he would clarify if they had sat-nav systems as well.

GPs unease over swine flu jab

There has been a reduction in the number of people contracting swine flu for the third week-in-a-row according to a leading doctor with the HSE but he warned the public not to take it for granted the pandemic was over.

Dr. Peter Finnegan told the November meeting of the North East Health Forum that three weeks ago the number of people contracting the flu was 200 a week last week is was down to 134 a week but they still had to be vigilant.

However, a number of members pointed out that some GPs in towns in Cavan and Monaghan were not participating in the vaccination scheme, which was putting pressure on health clinics.

Cllr. Paddy McDonald said that a number of GPs in Bailieboro were not participating in the administrating scheme. People have been forced to attend the clinics and as a result they were putting pressure on them.

Cllr. Robbie Gallagher told the members that no GP in Monaghan town were participating in the scheme because they claimed they are not indemnified. "I am disappointed with that."

Dr. Finnegan reported that the GPs who were operating the scheme were doing so above and beyond the call of duty. Clinics were at full capacity but operating without any problems.

Stephen Mulvany, hospital network manager, North East, said their clinics had dealt with 20,000 cases. "We would hope that more GP's would come forward."