IHCA describe HSE decision to indefinitely cancel all scheduled care across ULHG as “unbelievable, unnecessary, and an abandonment of the people of the Mid-West”

Consultants describe the decision as one of the starkest developments in Irish healthcare in recent times

• “De-escalation amounts to dereliction” as decision to cancel scheduled care across Mid-West hospitals will have severe consequences for patient health outcomes, and minimal impact on overcrowding and waiting lists;
• Severe overcrowding and persistent waiting lists can only be addressed by long term and sustainable resourcing, alongside the opening of new beds;
• Vice President of the IHCA, Mr Colin Peirce: “This decision, described by HSE as measures to ‘de-escalate’, effectively amounts to a dereliction of hospitals across the Mid-West and those who depend upon them.”

The Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA) has described the HSE’s cancellation of all scheduled care – elective surgeries, endoscopies and outpatient appointments – for an indefinite period across the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG), as “unbelievable, unnecessary, and an abandonment of the people of the Mid-West”.  

Consultants described the decision as one of the starkest developments in Irish healthcare in recent times. Coming as it does in the traditionally quieter summer period, Consultants said the development does not bode well for the region this autumn and winter, and will have severe knock-on consequences for patient health outcomes. 

Appointments and operations have been cancelled at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Ennis, Nenagh, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital until further notice in order to “de-escalate the UHL site”. 

However, the IHCA has warned that “this decision, termed by the HSE as measures to ‘de-escalate’, effectively amounts to a dereliction of hospitals across the Mid-West and those who depend upon them”. 

Cancelling essential appointments and operations across the region should not be the go-to solution, as it will lead to severe adverse consequences for patient health outcomes, and do nothing to address the extreme lack of capacity and overcrowding at our hospitals.

UHL continues to suffer from under resourcing in terms of beds and staffing, when compared with other large Model 4 hospitals.¹ 

Commenting on the decision to cancel elective surgeries, endoscopies and outpatient appointments, Vice President of the IHCA, Mr Colin Peirce said:

“This decision illustrates a complete lack of creativity and collaboration on the part of HSE leadership. We have all known for years that Limerick has problems. We also know that fixing them requires a blend of immediate and medium-term decisions. It is clearly a challenge, but instead of meeting it creatively, HSE leadership is essentially giving up. It’s unbelievable, unnecessary, and an abandonment of the local population.

“No hospital consultant wants to tell a patient waiting for essential surgery that their critical treatment has been cancelled and, worse still, that they do not know when it will be rescheduled. 

“Alongside hampering diagnosis, treatment and delivery of care, this will have a severe impact on already excessive waiting lists. The number of people on waiting lists is expected to reach further unacceptable levels when the NTPF data is published tomorrow, Friday 9 August.

“We cannot allow scheduled care to be seen as an ‘optional extra’ in the delivery of healthcare. Responding to a lack of resourcing and capacity by simply cancelling life enhancing surgery is completely unacceptable and poorly thought-out. 

“These cancellations will have a direct negative impact on patients’ health. Those who have their essential surgery cancelled have poorer physical health, increased functional impairments, and worse psychological functioning than those who do not experience such postponements. Therefore, this decision cannot be presented as a solution for the people of the Mid-West, as it creates more problems than it solves. 

“We urge the HSE to reinstate these procedures, and to come to the table with long term and sustainable solutions that the people of the Mid-West deserve.”

ENDS

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NOTES:
1.    HSE Hospital Data; https://www.ihca.ie/_fileupload/hospital-data.pdf; UL Hospitals Group Briefing Note for the Department of Health, 15 April 2024; https://www.ihca.ie/_fileupload/briefing-note-for-department-of-health-160424.pdf