Nenagh Hospital to Lose Coronary Care Unit

11th September 2012

It is my belief that the North Tipperary Government Deputies have failing to protect vital services in Nenagh General Hospital. The Coronary Care Unit in Nenagh Hospital is now facing closure as a result of continued cutbacks. This essentially means that any coronary related referrals from General Practitioners will now be directed to Limerick and there will be no coronary care available in Nenagh.

Our current government deputies have failed miserably in protecting our hospital and the results are now evident today. During the period of the last Government I secured in excess of €4 million in funding for Nenagh General Hospital the progression of the surgical suites to the final stage marks the culmination of this investment, the benefits of which are now being reaped by the Hospital and the community.

For example the state of the art endoscopy suite has proven to be a major benefit to the Hospital. The construction of this two-room endoscopy suite attached to the hospital was announced by myself in 2009. This project has facilitated the development of endoscopy services on site which has enhanced the delivery of gastroenterological diagnostics at the hospital and for the region. The completion of the endoscopy suite has set Nenagh apart as an expert facility and had radically increased the throughput of patients through the hospital. This facility is one of the busiest of its kind. Additionally the new surgical suites are continuing to progress and are actually ahead of schedule.

The only area of the hospital that required care and protection is the Coronary Care Unit and this has not been done. Minister Kelly and Deputy Coonan must stand up and be counted and fight for the protection and retention of services in our local hospital.