Several Government TDs voiced support yesterday for health reform plans that could curtail accident and emergency services at their local hospitals.
The signals that TDs in Fianna Fáil and the PD are prepared to consider such changes follow an extensive briefing by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin. The briefing on Wednesday was attended by up to 60 TDs, according to one person who was present.
The two-hour session featured a presentation by Mr David Hanly, who chaired the National Taskforce on Medical Staffing.
It took place shortly before the Government published Mr Hanly's report at a press briefing. At the same time, Mr Martin's Department also briefed health board officials.
Fianna Fáil TD Ms Maire Hoctor, in whose Tipperary North constituency St Joseph's Hospital in Nenagh is based, said she believed the changes could be for the benefit of the town. Ms Hoctor said: "70 or 80 per cent of emergency cases are people who present on the day and go home on the day, and they will still be treated at Nenagh.
"The very serious and life-threatening trauma cases will be brought to Limerick Regional Hospital or elsewhere to get the specialised treatment they need."
Ms Hoctor said the proposal was to enhance ambulance services and put skilled emergency medical teams in them.
Clare Fianna Fáil deputy Mr Tony Killeen also said he would not give a "knee-jerk" negative response to such a thorough report, which had been prepared by "some of the most eminent medical people in the country".
While the report recommends that Ennis General Hospital in his constituency lose its A&E unit, he said he was "prepared to be convinced" that the implementation of the report would be for the benefit of the health service in general.
Those who had written the report should make themselves available to answer questions from local people who would be affected by the changes, he said
"Quite a bit of what is suggested in the report is positive, and they say it will work and will provide a better medical service. I would have questions in relation to the quality of medical care, but I won't condemn them until I am dissatisfied with the answers."
The Fianna Fáil TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mr Barry Andrews, said he had some concerns about the likely closure of the A&E unit at Loughlinstown Hospital, Dublin, but believed that St Michael's Hospital in Dún Laoghaire would retain its unit.
Mr Andrews emphasised that any move to close A&E units would be made for valid clinical reasons. "Politics really has to be left out of it. We all have to bite the bullet on this."
The PD TD in Dun Laoghaire, Ms Fiona O'Malley, said she supported the initiative. "The plan itself is about delivering better patient care and that's the priority," she said. "If you buy into the reform, you have to buy into the whole thing." Delivery of the health reform plan would be the measure of the Government, she said. "We all have to take difficult decisions."
Noting that the initiative embraced plans to improve ambulance services, Ms O'Malley said a 24-hour accident and emergency service would be developed at St Vincent's Hospital.