The Health Service Executive has been accused of a “complete lack of communication” over what services will be available at Roscommon Hospital from next week when the emergency department ceases to function.
The HSE said yesterday that the emergency department will be replaced with an urgent care centre which will be doctor-led. In four weeks time an out-of-hours GP-led service will be provided.
Roscommon Hospital Action Committee spokesman John McDermott said this afternoon that local general practitioners and hospital staff had contacted him looking for clarification.
He said staff and GPs had asked him to explain where they are to refer patients from Monday.
“We don’t know who is covering for what. Nobody does. Apart from whether it is right or wrong to move the services, the patients don’t know, the GPs don’t know and the staff that are supposed to operate the system don’t know," Mr McDermott said.
Mr McDermott said he had called on the HSE in Galway to explain “in simple language” what the services will be.
Twenty supporters of the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee gathered at the gates of Swinford District Hospital this morning where Taoiseach Kenny opened an extension to the hospital.
Mr Kenny said the reconfiguration of services at Roscommon will go ahead next week. “The change will be as announced," the Taoiseach said. “The transition period of a month as referred to by the minister will be implemented as well.”
“From that point of view the vast majority of what happened in Roscommon previously as a drive-in urgent care centre will continue for more serious cases will be transported to other hospitals by ambulances," Mr Kenny said.
A protest over the closure of the emergency department took place earlier this evening on four bridges on the River Shannon. The protests, which started at 5pm and finished at about 7pm took place in Athlone town, Lanesboro, Rooskey and Tarmonbarry.
A sign urging people not to have an accident in the next 125 kilometers greeted motorists approaching Tarmonbarry in Co Leitrim, where around 300 protesters gathered on the bridge over the river.
Waving Roscommon flags and placards, the protesters called on the Government to keep the emergency department at Roscommon open.
Pat McHugh from Slatta in Co Roscommon described the facilities at Roscommon as “excellent”. He was angered at what has happened.
“It’s appalling, that’s what it is now and by a west of Ireland Taoiseach who we had faith in.”
Mr McHugh claimed his father had managed to survive three heart attacks in the past 30 years thanks to the hospital.
A number of separate protests are planned in Dublin and Wicklow tomorrow afternoon over proposals to reconfigure services at Loughlinstown Hospital.