Health Minister and high level hospital delegation to meet
June 14, 2011,
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames has secured a June 22nd meeting between the Minister of Health, James Reilly and a delegation from Galway University Hospital staff to discuss the impact on patient care arising from a severe shortage of theatre nurses.
The delegation led by Mr. Michael O’Sullivan, Orthopedic Surgeon, Professor Michael Kerin and Head of Nursing Ms. McHugh from GUH will join with Galway West Oireachtas members to meet with Minister James Reilly at his Leinster House office.
‘The lack of theatre nurses is so grave that only 12 out 16 theatres can be used at best, thus causing a serious back up of inpatient, outpatient and emergency patient cases at this major hospital serving Galway and where cancer care is concerned, the entire West and North-West region.
“The situation is unacceptable – patients are suffering, surgeons are frustrated and morale is low. Hence the reason for the hospital’s poor performance on the health stat measures. We need to find a solution with all parties and I hope that this meeting will assist in speeding up that process”.
The meeting will outline the seriously negative impact of the moratorium on front line staff, namely theatre nurses – on service delivery and the access to surgery for patients.
Along with my fellow Fine Gael Oireachtas colleagues, I look forward to finding a way to resolve this crisis, said Senator Fidelma Healy Eames.
