This article is from page 29 of the 2013-06-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
THE unavailability of a 24 hour CT scanning service at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ennis is putting the lives of stroke patients at risk.
According to retired nurse and member of the HSE West Regional Forum Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) people travelling from the West Clare peninsula are at greatest risk, as they are more than three hours out from critical testing and treatment at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.
Ann Doherty, CEO, Mid Western Regional Hospital Group said however that she would continue to agree to disagree with Cllr McNamara’s argument.
She said medical personnel had advised her that the best place to go is where thrombolysis can be administered, not necessarily the nearest place.
The HSE officer added that not enough patients presenting with strokes go through the Ennis Hospital to justify a 24 hour CT scanning service there.
“We have to agree to disagree on this,” she said.
Cllr McNamara had been arguing that if a CT scan was available 24 hours a day at Ennis, people living on the West Clare peninsula could be tested quickly for stroke and administered thrombolysis within the crucial three hours necessary for it to prevent permanent damage.
Thrombolytics restore cerebral blood flow in some patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Test have shown that administering this intravenous drug within the first three hours of ischemic stroke onset offers substantial net benefits for virtually all patients with potentially disabling deficits.
Stroke patients in places such as Carrigaholt in West Clare are 105 kilometres from such treatment in Limerick.
The majority would also have to wait for an ambulance to travel from Kilrush or even Ennis to bring them to the hospital, adding to the time lapse.
“People on the peninsula will not beat the three hour stroke time,” said Cllr McNamara.