Clare Objections  |  Actions Taken  |  The Responses  |  The Petition

The CLOSURE OF THE 24HR/7 DAY ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY UNIT IN ENNIS IS:

UNDEMOCRATIC

The Clare people were not consulted. Clare people pay for and are entitled to an A&E Service

UNWANTED

At a public demonstration on November 15th, 2003 – 25,000 people representing every political, social, industrial, economic, sports, cultural, farming and trade union group opposed the closure of A&E in Ennis

UNSAFE

At least 20 deaths will occur per year – based on Ennis Hospital records

UNECONOMIC

Ennis patient costs are 66% of Limerick patient costs

UNFAIR

44,000 Clare people will be over 60 minutes travelling time away from A&E. Plus 25,000 tourist over nighting during the tourist season

UNREALISTIC

900,000 tourists and 2.5 million Shannon Airport passengers are potential users of Ennis Hospital. 25,000 visitors overnight during the tourist season – mostly in West Clare

UN-THOUGHT

The withdrawal of acute beds from Ennis and Nenagh will add 57% to Limerick’s acute bed numbers – a total of 800 beds! 500-600 beds is the maximum for efficient service!

UNHEEDED

The British Independent Reconfiguration Panel were invited by the Department of Health to examine the Hanley Report and the Ennis Hospital case. They recommended the development of Ennis Hospital. Their report has been unacknowledged

UNJUST

Wexford General Hospital would be similar in terms of the population it serves (116,592 people) and its proximity to Waterford Regional Hospital. Yet Wexford has 232 beds and an annual budget of €€of48million. Ennis on a pro rata for the 103,000 people it serves should have 206 beds and a budget of €€of43.3 million, a far cry from the 88 beds and a budget of €24million.

UNBALANCED

Ennis successfully cares for 95% of A&E admissions, 5% are stabilised and dispatched for specialisation. We do not seek brain surgery, we seek basic health services

UNACCEPTABLE

Clare General Practitioners, Ennis Consultant Staff and Nursing Staff state that patient safety is ignored by A&E removal

UNEQUALLED

Ennis has 88 beds. Since January 1st 2005 up to 26 extra patients have been accommodated in the day ward, casualty unit, physio unit and extra beds in other wards. Other hospitals put trolleys in the corridors. The Ennis corridors are simply too narrow. Staff use every possible space for the permanent overflow

UNPLANNED

If all acute beds are located in Limerick, a manifestation of the hospital bug will result in restricted admission. There will be no fall back facilities for the medical needs of the region

UNETHICAL

20.9 million Euros were promised to develop Ennis in 2000. After five years the Minister of Health announced this investment on the 21st June 2005. We await completion of the first phase and the Minister’s written undertaking to retain A&E and Acute care. Democracy is ignored with unfulfilled political promises.

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Ennis General Hospital Campaign

• At present 15% of Ireland’s population are more than one hour traveling time to an A & E unit. If The Hanley Report is implemented that percentage rises to 30%. Already The Monaghan Hospital A & E unit has closed and Roscommon Hospital is under threat.
• 25,000 people of Clare from all walks of life showed their rejection of the Hanley Report in November 2003. The General Practitioners of Clare, in an open letter opposed The Hanley plans.
• In 2004 The Ennis General Hospital Development Committee commissioned and launched the Ennis General Hospital Response to the Hanley Report, compiled by Dr. Jim Bradley B.Sc., Biology & Chemistry, PhD in Immunobiology, Masters in Business Administration. There has been no official acknowledgement.
• The 7 Ennis General Hospital consultants published an open critical letter to the Minister for Health, Mary Hearney – 11/3/05.
• The committee met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who stated that A & E services would continue in Ennis. Mary Hearney agreed.
• The Government set up the Health Service Executive to replace the Health Boards. The Government appointed Prof. Brendan Drumm as CEO. Our committee sent a registered letter with a questionnaire to Prof. Drumm to seek confirmation of The Taoiseach’s and the Minister for Health’s statements – 29/11/ 2005. We nailed the questionnaire to the door of the Mid West HSE Office in Limerick on the 17/01/2006. We received a reply on 29/03/2006 stating that A & E would continue in Ennis. Within hours a new letter was issued withdrawing that sentence.
• Health Minister Michael Martin announced a €20.9 million investment in Ennis General Hospital in 2000.
• The investment has not been made. Inflation has risen the costs to over €40milllion. The investment was approved by a value for money audit.●The People of Clare pay €640 million to the exchequer each year. The annual cost of operating Ennis General Hospital is €24 million. The citizens of Clare are the best judges of value for money!
• The Mid-Western Hospital Development have offered to purchase a CAT scanner for Ennis General Hospital. The CAT scan detects internal bleeding. About 800 Ennis patients are sent to Limerick each year to be scanned. Recently the Limerick CAT scan was found to be not fully operational. The gift offered has only recently been acknowledged. Management are debating whether to make a temporary accommodation for the CAT scan or await the building of the new development. We still don’t have a CAT scanner.
• The committee demonstrated when Mary Harney visited Clarecastle. She thought “it was an animal rights demonstration”.
• Clare candidates were asked to respond to three major questions.
• Party leaders were asked to make clear declaration on the future of A&E and the promised development.
• A delegation met the Taoiseach (08/07/2007).
• A delegation met the Teamwork / Horwarth Consultant Review Group.
• On the 20th September 2007,a group of Mayors met Mary Harney, the Minister for Health in the new department in Dublin to challenge Mary Harney on Health.

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Community & Government Reaction

• Clare's GP's Oppose the Hanley Report.
• David Hanley defends his report
• Minister Martin promises funding for Ennis Hospital
• 4 doctors Appointed to Ennis on two-year contracts.
• Ennis Hanley Implementation Committee established
• Minister Harney refuses to meet deputation (14/12/04)
• President Mc Aleese replies that she is constitutionally constrained and sends good wishes (02/02/05)
• Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly unable to assist (11/03/05)
• 7 Hospital Consultants publish an open critical letter to Minister Harney (11/03/05)
• Minister Harney meets Clare Deputation (18/04/05)
• Minister Harney informs Minister Killeem that the Hanley Report is to be implemented (30/04/05)
• No response from the meeting with Joint Oireachtas Committee of Health & Children
• The committee of Public Accounts will attend to the of costing of Hanley proposals (25/05/05)
• Taoiseach Bertie Ahern unable to meet deputation due to heavy schedule (07/06/05)
• Health Service Executive seeks permission for prefabricated Physiotherapy Unit at Ennis Hospital (08/06/05)
• Minister Killeen announce €20.9 million allocation for the 1st phase of Ennis Hospital Development Plan (21/06/05)
• Minister Harney states that 12 Hospitals are having Hanley proposals implemented (30/06/05)
• On the 20th September 2007, Mary Harney, the Minister for Health, announced a consultant led 24 hour A & E at Ennis General Hospital will close and be replaced by a nurse led Minor Injury Unit, which will close at night.

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