Carthy wants review of decision to remove dermatology services from Monaghan Hospital

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has called on the Minister for Health to commission an independent assessment of the decision to permanently transfer consultant-led dermatology outpatient services from Monaghan Hospital to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Deputy Carthy has written to the Minister expressing serious concerns about the impact of the decision on patients in Monaghan, particularly the additional travel distances and costs involved in accessing services previously available locally.

The Monaghan TD said that the HSE has failed to provide any evidence that the transfer has resulted in improved patient outcomes, reduced waiting times or better access to treatment.

Deputy Carthy said: “The removal of dermatology services from Monaghan Hospital represents another blow to our hospital under a Fine Gael government. It places an additional burden on patients and families who must now travel to Drogheda for appointments that were previously available in Monaghan.

“This is particularly difficult for older patients, people with disabilities and those without access to private transport.

“The HSE has justified this decision on the basis that centralising services will deliver a more streamlined and efficient model of care. But they have provided no evidence that patients are actually receiving a better service as a result.

“I have written to the Minister for Health requesting an independent assessment of the decision, including an examination of waiting times, patient outcomes and the rationale for removing the service in the first place.

“The people of Monaghan have suffered due to the removal of services at Monaghan Hospital. In recent years we have secured some welcome new services but these were only delivered after a substantial battle with government and the HSE. Now, people are entitled to know why another service has been removed.

“I believe there is a strong case for restoring consultant-led dermatology outpatient clinics at Monaghan Hospital. If this decision is independently scrutinised I believe that case will be clear.

“I will be pressing the Minister and the HSE on this matter in a bid to restore the dermatology service at Monaghan hospital.”