No trauma patients taken to Portiuncula University Hospital putting lives at risk – Murphy

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has said that the confirmation he has received from the HSE that no Trauma patients are now been accepted in Portiuncula is further putting lives at risk.In a recent parliamentary question reply the HSE have confirmed that as of the 2nd April 2018 they have implemented their “major-trauma by-pass protocol” in relation to Portiuncula University Hospital Ballinasloe Co Galway.
“The confirmation that Portiuncula Hospital A&E has basically been downgraded is damming news for the people of Galway and Roscommon. When Roscommon Hospital was downgraded and the A&E lost we were given a commitment that Portiuncula would be our emergency hospital in cases of Trauma.
“The people of Roscommon and East Galway were promised a comprehensive ambulance service and more investment in Portiuncula Hospital to ensure that we didn’t lose the ‘Golden Hour’ in relation to accidents and emergencies. We have no chance of delivering the sickest and most urgent patience to University Hospital Galway within the ‘Golden Hour’ from many parts of Roscommon and Galway. Therefore Portiuncula is a vital A&E for this area.
“The figures that I received last year in relation to ambulance turn around time are also very worrying as 21% of ambulances that arrive at UCHG take longer than 60 minutes to book in patients due to the back logs already experienced. The HSE’s decision that all trauma patients will now go to the already overwhelmed UCHG is another bad decision. Said Deputy Murphy