Action needed on Nenagh Hospital Medical Assessment Unit

The Medical Assessment Unit in Nenagh Hospital was closed for two days last week due to staffing issues. This is not the first time the unit has been closed due the lack of a full time consultant being appointed by the HSE. Deputy Jackie Cahill has been in contact with the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly this week to highlight the issues affecting this vital facility for the town of Nenagh and north Tipperary more generally.

The Fianna Fáil TD. for Tipperary said: “The Medical Assessment Unit in Nenagh Hospital was established to take pressure off of the A&E in Limerick Regional Hospital. It is a top-class facility and a great addition to the services in Nenagh Hospital. However, the failure of the HSE to date to appoint a full-time consultant to the unit is unacceptable.

“I was contacted by staff members in Nenagh Hospital this week who informed me that the unit had to close for two days this week due to a lack of staff for the unit. Doctors in Nenagh hospital are expected to fulfil their duties in the hospital at the moment as well as trying to fill the staffing gaps in the Medical Assessment Unit. This is just not acceptable. This is leading to fatigue and burnout among some staff and it cannot be allowed to continue.

“This is not the first time that the unit has had to close due to a lack of a full time consultant and there is a worry among the staff in the hospital that if this is not addressed as a matter of priority, that the HSE will decide that the unit can manage as is, without a dedicated consultant being appointed on a full time basis.

“I am in contact with Minister Stephen Donnelly in relation to this and I am pushing for action to be taken as a matter of priority to get this consultant in place; to ensure full and consistent opening times, and to take some pressure off the A&E in Limerick Regional Hospital, while continuing local operations in Nenagh."