Tyrrelstown GP closure and endoscopy delays
Deputy Donnelly warned that a GP clinic in Tyrrelstown is closing and described delays in Connolly Hospital’s endoscopy service. The Tánaiste said he had not heard of a bowel screening cutback, asked for details, and promised to raise the issue with the Minister for Health.
Today, a call was made for sick patients to go to GPs and other pathways to try to avoid emergency departments. Unfortunately, in Tyrrelstown in my constituency, the GP clinic will close in February and, as we know, there is overwhelming evidence that people are dying in emergency departments. Let me give an example. The Tánaiste talked about primary care, early diagnosis and access to services. There is a crisis in the endoscopy unit at Connolly Hospital. There are currently just four scopes being performed daily. There are delayed procedures and therefore delayed diagnoses. Will the Tánaiste commit to the opening of the endoscopy unit and increasing bed capacity to avoid the shutting down of day services? I am also told the hospital management has postponed the successful bowel screening programme. Again, as was said, pathways, early diagnosis and access to treatment are really important.
Comment on this
No, that is not the case. I will check that with the Minister. That is the first I have heard of that. On the endoscopy unit, in which hospital?