Any threat to future of Portiuncula A&E will not be tolerated – Minister Naughten

In East Galway, Health, News, South Roscommon by Denis Naughten

Local Minister Denis Naughten has stated that any proposal for the closure of the A&E at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, will not be tolerated.

“This issue also arose during the talks on the formation of a government and I made it crystal clear that I would not tolerate any proposal to downgrade the A&E at Portiuncula Hospital,” stated Minister Naughten.

“I was given a specific assurance that there would be no downgrading of the A&E and I have re-iterated this to the new Minister for Health, Simon Harris.”

The Trauma Steering Group has been examining the treatment of trauma patients and ensuring they are treated in the correct facility but has not yet presented its report to Minister Harris.

Minister Naughten pointed out that major trauma already bypasses Portiuncula Hospital, and has done so for a number of years.

“The air ambulance is now used to ensure patients who have sustained major trauma can be transferred to major trauma centres where they can access the necessary treatment much more quickly and that is a service I am looking to have extended,” stated Minister Naughten.

ENDS.