CONCERN is widespread that proposed cuts in services at the Regional Orthopaedic Hospital in Croom will affect the level of care. Local politicians are calling for a reversal of the planned closure of a ward and operating theatre at the hospital, in existence since 1924. Cllr Patrick C Fitzgerald told the Limerick Post that generations of his family worked at the hospital, and claimed it would not be a financial burden to the HSE to continue running it at its current capacity.
“The hospital is the biggest employer in the Croom area and if staff are transferred to other hospitals, as has been proposed, their long honed orthopaedic skills will be lost,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.
“The HSE say the services they want to cut are costing €8 million. Cutting down on bed numbers and closing an operating theatre would mean longer waiting lists for hip and knee replacements and people would have to travel to other counties for the procedures”.
He added that major renovations and costly upgrading of wards had taken place at the hospital, making it nonsensical to close them. “If the HSE want to save money they should concentrate on tidying their own house, and looking at their top heavy administration”.
Cllr Leo Walsh warned the Croom facility should not be downgraded.
“Half of the hospital is closed. The Regional Hospital is expected to make up for the ward and operating theatre closure, but it is already inundated. The amount needed to keep them open is not much”.
Cllr Patrick O’Donovan called for the HSE to clarify its position.
“Croom has a proven track record of delivering excellent services
“The skills they have built up are essential to ensuring that the centre of excellence, which exists there, can be further developed.
“However, I do not believe that it is possible to pick up the service and move it to Limerick without disrupting the quality of care that is currently been given, and as far as I am concerned, the continuance of the service and the delivery of care is the most important factor in this whole issue”.The matter was discussed in a special meeting of Limerick County Council on Wednesday evening, when Orthopaedic Surgeon Eric Masterson told cllrs that he had been assured by Mr. Flynn, General Manager of the Mid Western Regional and Croom hospitals, that there were no plans to close down the latter. The issue will again be raised at this month’s full meeting.
