OUTPATIENT CLINICS CUT BACK AT PORTIUNCULA HOSPITAL

Date Published: 26-Jan-2012

Outpatients at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe will have to wait longer for appointments.

This is due to the increased pressure on the Accident and Emergency Department.

Consultant cardiologist at Portiuncula, Dr. John Barton, says the closure of the A&E Department at Roscommon Hospital has resulted in a bigger workload in Ballinasloe.

Dr. Barton says he had to take the decision to cut back his outpatient clinics because of a workload which is leaving him physically exhausted.

He says that when the A&E in Roscommon was closed, human resources were not redeployed to support increased inpatient numbers in Ballinasloe and Galway.

Speaking to Galway Bay Fm News, Dr. John Barton, says he regrets having to take a decision to cut back on outpatient appointments.