'Lives are being lost now,' Campaigners express concern for mid-west emergency care review

The Mid-West Hospital Campaign has expressed concerns over the time taken by HIQA to conduct an independent review of emergency department care.

The review is expected to examine the case for a second ED in the mid-west region. 

HIQA today published the terms of reference for the review in which it said the final report will not be given to the Minister for Health until summer 2025. 

A preliminary report will be complete within six months of the review's start.

The campaign group said that they noted the publication but that the review was going to take too long.

“We are gravely concerned at the unacceptable length of time that this review will take. It is neither exaggeration or hyperbole to state that lives are being lost now.

"The crisis at UHL has been the subject of several reviews, and none have had any meaningful impact on the patient experience.

"Indeed, during the past fifteen years, the UHL ED has only become a more dangerous place in which to seek treatment for a medical emergency, said the group in a statement. 

The independent review was requested by Minister Stephen Donnelly in May of this year. 

According to the terms of reference published by HIQA, they have been asked to consider the report into the circumstances of the death of Aoife Johnston when carrying out the review. 

The pre-review document also says HIQA is to consider population and demographic changes when making recommendations. 

It also notes the justification for the reconfiguration of emergency care and the ongoing capacity issues at UHL.

“We have previously welcomed the announcement of this review as a long overdue first step to normalising the delivery of Emergency Department health services in Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary. 

“In our conversations with government and HSE leadership, we are on record as supporting the reversal of the failed 2009 hospital reconfiguration and the reopening of Emergency Departments at St John’s, Ennis and Nenagh, said the Mid-west Hospital Campaign.

According to the terms of reference, in conducting their review, HIQA will set up an expert advisory group and engage with regional and national stakeholders, including patients and clinicians and healthcare workers.

However, the campaign group fear that stakeholders is too broad a term. 

“The terms of reference for this review promise meaningful consultation with key stakeholders across the region and nationally. We would remind HIQA that communities qualify as key stakeholders. Those who have suffered negative medical outcomes as a result of the botched reconfiguration are key stakeholders.

“The families of those who lost their lives on a UHL ED trolley or as a result of time spent on a UHL ED trolley, are key stakeholders. All of these groups and individuals must be consulted during the course of this review,” said the Mid-west Hospital Campaign group. 

The review will also look at national and international research, monitor compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, and consult specialists outside of HIQA. 

HIQA will then make recommendations to the minister. 

“The MWHC believes that this must be a truly independent review as promised, and the sectoral interests of any individual group must not dictate the outcome and recommendations.

“We trust that this review will result in courageous recommendations that will be quickly implemented by the government of the day. We look forward to engaging with HIQA in an honest and constructive manner in the course of their review, said the Mid-west Hospital group. 

MODEL THREE HOSPITALS

Speaking at the Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen in May, Minister Donnelly said that to reopen an ED, the region would require a model three hospital.

However, Social Democrat TD Róisín Shortall pointed out that the only suitable hospital for a second ED in the mid-west is UHL. 

That means currently, Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s are not suitable to accommodate an ED.

The minister responded that he would need to wait for the review to address this issue. 

The terms published today made no mention of upgrades to the other hospitals in the region.