GPs' safety warning on hospital closures

A professional body representing the country's 2,500 GPs has warned that the HSE's policy to transfer care from smaller hospitals could endanger patients.

Mark Walsh, Chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) said it is important that, following hospital service closures, GPs are not expected to provide services outside their areas of expertise or training, from a patient safety perspective.

Dr Walsh warned of the dangers of transferring some hospital services into the community without these services being properly resourced.

He said the ICGP was concerned that the withdrawal or transfer of acute services from some hospital facilities
will have a negative impact on patient safety due to GPs being asked to provide services outside their expertise and due to the increased workload involved and lack of resources on overburdened GPs.

Dr Walsh said that while the HSE's Transformation Programme had the full support of the ICGP, the strategy has cost and workload implications for those providing this care.

"There has been virtually no transfer of resources from the hospital sector to primary care to match the enhanced demand for various services now provided in a community setting," he said.

According to Dr Walsh, the extra workload has been absorbed into the existing budgeting arrangements for GPs.

"This is particularly evident in the areas of mental health and chronic disease management. The withdrawal of acute services from some hospital facilities will further exacerbate pressures on GPs to provide their core services."

"It goes without saying that appropriate resources, infrastructure and services should be verified to be safely operational in the community setting prior to the cessation of any acute hospital-based service," Dr Walsh said.

The College's statement was made as a vigil took place at Monaghan General Hospital in protest at the closure of acute and emergency care services there.

The protest was organised by the County Monaghan Community Alliance, which is opposed to the transfer of services to Cavan General Hospital.

The protestors say Cavan will not be able to cope with the additional demand.

[Posted: Wed 22/07/2009]