This article is from page 16 of the 2013-10-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE Health Service Executive (HSE) advised last evening (Monday) that all patients who will be affected by today’s strike by junior doctors would already have been contacted by phone.
The health service was not able to say however how many operations, clinics and medical procedures at Ennis Hospital and the University Hospital Limerick have been cancelled as a result of the industrial action.
All appointments have been reviewed, theatre-by-theatre, clinicby-clinic, for all hospitals in the University Limerick group including Ennis Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, Croom Hospital and St John’s Hospital.
“The message we wish to give to the public is a simple one, if your procedure or operation has to be cancelled you will be contacted directly by phone call. If you do not hear from us you should present to the hospital as normal,” a spokesperson for the hospital group said.
Any patient appointment that has to be cancelled will be rescheduled he added.
Urgent care for areas such as oncology, dialysis and emergency will be provided. This means that the Emergency Department in Dooradoyle will be open and also the local injuries units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals.
More than 3,000 medical doctors will force hospitals into a Sunday standard service from 7am to midnight in an unprecedented action over working hours.
Junior doctors have warned that tomorrow’s one-day strike may not be the last as negotiation with the HSE fail to find a resolution to the issue of non-consultant doctors working shifts of more than 24 hours. Tue8October13