OUR LADY'S HOSPITAL:GENERAL SURGERY services at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan are to be reinstated from today.
Surgery was stopped at the hospital in September 2010 after concerns about outcomes for some patients.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) had said at the time that six cases had resulted in poor clinical outcomes. It was also concerned that there were low volumes of certain types of surgery at the hospital.
Locals marched in protest at the cessation of surgery. A subsequent review, published last July, recommended the return of some surgical services to the hospital.
Last week, management of the Louth Meath Hospital Group met senior staff and heads of departments at the hospital to advise them of plans for the reintroduction of general surgical services to the hospital, the HSE said.
Staff were told minor and intermediate general elective surgery would resume today.
Staff were also told a chronic pain service would be introduced at the hospital from next January and that a regional rheumatology service was planned from next September.
This would include an additional consultant post and a musculoskeletal physiotherapist.
Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty welcomed the reopening of general surgical services at the hospital.
“It’s a great relief to receive confirmation from the HSE that surgical services are returning to Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.”
Ms Doherty also said the planned chronic pain service would save patients in the area from having to travel to Dublin.
