Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_03_22/GA_2203_E1_018.pdf 

Extracted text

18 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

March 22 2007

Why are fifty heart patients awaiting surgery at UCHG, while Galway Clinic is available?
BY MARY O'CONNOR The general manager of a local private hospital has questioned why there are more than 50 people awaiting heart surgery at University College Hospital Galway when the Galway Clinic has a "fully operational" heart surgery unit. Denis Coen of the Galway Clinic was responding to a claim by Fine Gael county councillor and Regional Health Forum member Fidelma Healy Eames that more than 50 people are awaiting heart by-pass operations in the Galway area. She said that a shortage of cardiac nurses at UCHG was holding up the availability of much needed heart by-pass surgery at the west's biggest hospital. "Millions of euro are frozen as a result of the shortage of cardiac nurses, millions spent on equipment, theatres and indeed wages of consultant surgeons and specialists hired specifically for this role. Someone must be held accountable for this inadequate forward planning and appalling wastage of time and money. "This situation has been known for some time so the fault has to lie either with management, the Department of Health, or the Minister for Health for not ensuring that enough cardiac nurses are in place. It is time that this wastage was outed and taken responsibility for." She said she has learned that two consultant surgeons - one who has held the post for one year and another, six months in the position have yet to conduct an operation due to the lack of adequately trained anaesthesia, scrub and circulating nurses for cardiothoracic services. "Furthermore, a perfusion engineer (he regulates the blood flow in the machines during the operations) has been brought in specially from Germany on a six week contract. He is already three weeks here and he too has been unable to start work due to the lack of cardiac nurses. A complement of eight nurses is needed and there are only two available. Meanwhile, more than 50 patients await by-passes in the Galway area." Mr Coen said if the Oranmore councillor's claim is true, questions must be asked. "If this is true then questions must be asked as to why these patients with serious health complaints are kept waiting for potentially life saving operations when there is a fully operational heart surgery unit here in the Galway Clinic?" He said people who are waiting longer than three months for procedures are entitled to have them carried out under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, a Government scheme designed to cut public hospital waiting lists by buying treatment for patients in private hospitals. "Patients who are waiting more than three months for a procedure are entitled under the National Treatment Purchase Fund for it to be carried out. The Galway Clinic has already carried out heart surgery under the NTPF and we would be more than willing to treat any patients that are referred to us. We are also covered by the majority of health insurance companies and have treated patients under these schemes." He said the Galway Clinic was the first hospital in the west to provide heart surgery. "The cardio thoracic unit at the Galway Clinic has been performing open heart surgery for almost three years. Headed up by Dr Fabio Bartolozzi, consultant cardiologist and his team the cardio thoracic unit has performed over 70 operations to date, two of which have been referrals under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. "This cardio-thoracic team is highly experienced in performing all adult heart and lung surgery procedures including mainly standard coronary artery bypass, valve, and thoracic great vessels surgery. In addition the Galway Clinic has a full team of cardiac nurses backed up by an eight bedded specialist ICU unit." In a statement the HSE West said University Hospital Galway is "absolutely committed" to the provision of a full cardio-thoracic surgical service at the hospital. "Heart surgery is extremely complex and requires highly specialist trained staff, complex equipment and a significant capital investment. "UHG would like to point out that there are currently two consultant cardio-thoracic surgeons in place, the first joined the hospital five months ago, the second two months ago. The plan is to introduce this service on a phased basis, and a number of major thoracic procedures have already taken place.The perfusion engineer began his work three weeks ago and is currently involved in commissioning the equipment required to carry out cardiac thoracic surgery." The statement outlined that the hospital has already recruited a "complement of highly trained staff". "Indeed all but a small number of the necessary staff are in place. It is also important to state that there is an acknowledged international shortage of specialist cardio-thoracic nurses. UHG has been engaged in ongoing international recruitment campaigns in an effort to fill the posts at the hospital."

Golf classic for construction industry
The West of Ireland branch of The Lighthouse Club will hold its 10th annual golf classic on Friday April 13 in Athenry Golf Club.

ADULTS LEARN TO SWIM
8 weeks course for complete Beginners & Improvers on Thursdays at 7.50pm
IN

CLARINBRIDGE

CHILDRENS CLASSES
A 10 week course on Fridays at 5.30pm (Beginners & Improvers) & Lane Swimming 6.15pm (Advanced) or Saturdays at 11.30am Book Now phone Braemor S.C on 091 794439 or join at the class

The Lighthouse Club is the international charity of the construction industry. The organisation, which has branches all over the world, collects money to provide support to help alleviate hardship among construction industry workers and/or their families who may have fallen on hard times through ill health, accidents, injuries, or death. More than 90 teams from across the entire spectrum of the construction and related industries are expected to participate in the Athenry fundraiser. The organising committee led by chairman Tom Coffey hopes to raise more than 25,000 for The Lighthouse Club Benevolent Fund. Team sponsorships or donations can be sent to Pat Winters, Winters Property Management Limited, Unit 5 A Liosban Business Park, Tuam Road, Galway. Tee times can be booked with Brendan Hutchinson on (091) 513305 until April 1, and with Linda Madden or Padraic Flattery of the Athenry Golf Club on (091) 794466 after this date.

Cian O'Broine, general manager, Meyrick Hotel and Mary McKeon, CO Mongram Hotels attended the opening of Tosh members club at the Meyrick Hotel on Thursday night. Picture: Philip Cloherty.