Doctors in Monaghan General Hospital are warning the HSE of a 'potentially catastrophic situation' if it continues with its plans to move acute medical admissions from Monaghan hospital to Cavan General Hospital.
In a letter to the HSE, the doctors warned that the plans 'defy logic' and that they would 'inevitably have a cost in terms of mortality for patients'.
As part of what's called the Transformation Process, many services are being centralised in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and Cavan General from outlying hospitals like Monaghan, Dundalk and Navan.
The latest change in Monaghan comes into effect today. Seriously ill patients who need to be ventilated can no longer stay in the hospital but have to be transferred to Cavan or any other available hospital.
The HSE says patients can be stabilised in Monaghan but must be sent on afterwards when a bed is available.
Campaigners say this is just another step in the removal of services. They claim the eventual aim of the HSE is to take Monaghan off call. They say the last time that happened, it led to 17 deaths.
Meanwhile, in a letter to HSE management, consultants in Monaghan have said they have 'the deepest possible reservations' about the plans for the hospital, which include reducing the A&E room to a 12-hour minor injuries clinic.
Cavan General is already overstreched before any more Monaghan patients are sent there, the doctors argue. Sending more, they warn 'may well produce a catastrophic situation'.
