Minister yet to see 'Trauma' report- ED closure

The Minister for Health has not yet seen a report which reportedly recommends the closure of the emergency department at Cavan General Hospital among eight others around the country.

The Sunday Business Post reported at the weekend that The Trauma Steering Group has been looking at treatment of trauma patients with the purpose of advising on the future of emergency medicine in this country.

One of the recommendations in an upcoming report is an increased centralisation of specialised emergency departments in larger hospitals. Its would mean more specialised emergency departments in some hospitals, while others would then focus on other services.

Hospitals where emergency departments could close are Cavan General Hospital, Naas Hospital (Kildare), Portiuncula Hospital (Galway), the Midlands Regional Hospital (Westmeath), St Luke’s Hospital (Kilkenny), Wexford General Hospital, South Tipperary General Hospital, the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise and the Mercy University Hospital (Cork).

But this morning the Department of Health has said there are no plans to close or remove services from those hospitals.

A spokesperson for Minister for Health Simon Harris said the 'group has not yet reported and Minister Harris has not seen any output from this group.

'No report or recommendations have been presented to the minister, and he has made it clear that there are no plans to close or remove services from emergency departments.'