"No threat" to 24-hour A&E at Portiuncula

The chief executive of the Galway/Roscommon Hospital management group has said there is no possibility of the 24-hour A&E Department at Portiuncula Hospital being downgraded. Bill Maher, CEO of the hospital group, gave this assurance at a meeting with local representatives last Friday. The meeting also heard that an acute medical assessment unit will open at the hospital in Ballinasloe in March, which could help to ease on pressure on the A&E Department. One and a half consultant positions have been made available to help staff the acute medical assessment unit. Deputy Denis Naughten attended Friday's meeting and questioned Mr Maher on the future of Portiuncula's services. "(Mr Maher) was categoric in saying that there is no threat to the 24/7 A&E in Portiuncula Hospital because the capacity simply isn't there in Galway University Hospital to take on that additional workload," said the local TD. * For more details on future services at Portiuncula, see tomorrow's edition of the Westmeath Independent