Hospital staff 'under severe pressure' INMO claims

Staff at the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar (MRHM) are working "under severe pressure" following recent bed closures at the facility, and there are "loud whispers" that things may get worse, a nurses' representative said at Saturday's "Hands Off Our Hospital" protest march in Mullingar.Lorraine Monaghan of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said that because of the HSE's decision to press ahead with the bed closures, patients have "no choice but to wait for treatment in cramped, confined spaces"."The people of the country are angry while the Government insists on propping up banks, as the sick and the elderly are left suffering," said Ms. Monaghan to the 5,000-strong crowd, gathered around the podium on Pearse Street.She said that retiring staff had not been replaced due to the recruitment moratorium; that the theatre at MRHM would be closed from July 1, and elective surgery and gynaecological services "postponed until further notice"."The hospital is busy and efficient, but its budget has been reduced by €7 million. It's being penalised for operating at such a low cost," Ms. Monaghan said. Local doctors' representative Liam Dalton called for Saturday's protest to be "the start of a process to generate a momentum" for further public action in defence of Mullingar Hospital."I don't think it's being paranoid to have fear because of our proximity to a town down the road whose name I won't mention," Dr. Dalton said, in the thinnest of veiled references to Tullamore.He paid tribute to the staff at the hospital for their professionalism, and invited the new CEO of the HSE, Cathal Magee to come to Mullingar to see the "excellent work" carried out at the facility.Westmeath GAA chairman Tom Farrell also spoke at Saturday's protest."The GAA is indebted to the staff of the hospital for the excellent care given to its players and members over the years," Mr. Farrell said. "Just to give an example, about three weeks ago we had two serious incidents in our football championships. Both of them were purely accidental; one in Rochfortbridge, and one in Cusack Park."For the outstanding services given to us by the General Hospital in Mullingar, the first aid people and the doctors and nurses deserve our great credit and applause for what they've done. Similar incidents have also occurred in Longford, and the same first class service has been provided there as well."One of the top services provided at Mullingar Hospital is the blood science laboratory, and Deputy Willie Penrose took the opportunity to bring some good news in this regard to protestors on Saturday."I just want to add one more major reason why our hospital should not be downgraded," he said. "The blood science laboratory in our hospital, has through the efforts of the very committed staff there, achieved ISO accreditation. It is the only lab in the three Midland hospitals to have five departments accredited."This internationally recognised gold standard accreditation means that doctors, nurses and more importantly patients - that's you and me - can have full confidence in our blood tests when they are carried out in our local ISO lab at the hospital."HSE statementSince Saturday, the HSE has gone on record again to insist it has "no plans" to downgrade or close Mullingar Hospital."In fact, a significant amount of investment has been given to enhance the services right throughout the area," a HSE spokesperson said."In the last two years, the HSE in Longford-Westmeath completed stage 1 of Phase 2B and moved to the newly upgraded ward areas in November 2009."The New Palliative Care Unit was opened and the Hospital participated in the Dublin Mid-Leinster Stroke Network Partnership which was established to better coordinate and develop services for patients presenting with acute stroke."Furthermore, the Hospital appointed Consultant Physicians with interests in Endocrinology, Cardiology and Gerontology. The Hospital is also the site for the Midland Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, which is one of seven throughout Ireland." The spokeperson pointed to the opening of new respiratory, endocrinology, early pregnancy and bone densitometry services at the hospital in recent months.She said while the HSE is aware of the shortage of junior doctors, especially the anticipated increase in this shortage from July 1, clinical management at Mullingar is "confident" that there are enough junior doctors there to maintain hospital services "for the next six months".