HSE admits to 'bogus' appointments

The HSE is giving patients in the midlands appointments to see a consultant dermatologist despite the fact that the consultant concerned no longer works at the hospital, according to a local Fine Gael TD.

The regional HSE office has confirmed that the current system means that patients can be given appointments to see a consultant who is no longer there in the knowledge that this appointment will have to be rescheduled due to the absence of the consultant.

James Bannon says the consultant in question left Mullingar Hospital months ago yet appointments are still being made for them to see the doctor in outpatients.

Mr Bannon said information provided to him shows that one patient had their appointment for Mullingar Hospital cancelled on five different occasions in the past six months, with the latest appointment set for mid-November.

"This is despite it being known that, months ago, the consultant had actually moved to a Dublin hospital."

He said this was a great abuse of patients by the HSE. Patients who are told they need to be seen by a consultant cannot be left to wait indefinitely.

"They need medical help, not bogus appointments. The HSE must immediately apologise," Mr Bannon said.

He added that Health Minister Mary Harney must make a full statement explaining how this "con job" has been allowed to go on and whether this is occurring elsewhere.

In response, a spokeswoman for the HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster said the consultant concerned decided to accept an offer of employment in a large teaching hospital in Dublin and resigned her post earlier this year.

It added that the appointment system in place at the hospital currently is such that to maintain a patient on a consultant list for an appointment, it must be scheduled even though there is no consultant available.

"As a result, a number of patients have had their appointments rescheduled; however the process will ensure that once the vacant post is filed, those waiting can be guaranteed an appointment."

"The HSE sought on a number of occasions to recruit a temporary consultant without success as there were no suitable applications for the post."

It said it is intended to advertise a restructured post with a commitment to a Dublin hospital within the coming weeks.

The spokeswoman told irishhealth.com that there would be concerns that if the current appointment system was not used, patients might get lost in the system.

"In the meantime, some patients who required urgent treatment have been seen in Dublin and arrangements have also been made for children to be treated in Dublin," she  said.

It was recently revealed that around 175,000 people are on waiting lists for outpatient appointments in public hospital clinics around the country.

[Posted: Thu 24/09/2009]