Laois GPs have expressed a “total lack of confidence” in Dr Susan O’Reilly as CEO of the Dublin-Midlands Leinster Hospital Group “to provide a clear plan for sustainable services at MRH Portlaoise and for the wider Dublin Mid Leinster Region”.
They have also called for her resignation.
“GPs in Laois are committed to ensuring access for our patients, friends and families to care that is safe, effective and nationally consistent with other citizens of this state,” they said in a statement on Saturday.
“We would like to express our total lack of confidence in Dr. Susan O’ Reilly as CEO of the Dublin Midland Leinster Hospital Group to effectively lead and manage a team and provide a clear plan for sustainable services at MRH Portlaoise and for the wider Dublin Mid Leinster Region.
“We have, in conjunction with our Consultant colleagues at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise drawn up a local Stakeholder document ‘The Future of Acute Services at MRH Portlaoise, The Local Stakeholder Perspective’.
“We believe this sets out a template which would safely secure services at MRH Portlaoise and indeed that of other small hospitals nationally.
“This document was signed by 70 doctors from the region, published in September 2016 and shared with all concerned parties.
“Dr O’Reilly CEO Dublin Mid Leinster Hospital Group submitted a draft plan to the Department of Health in 2016. Dr O’Reilly maintains this plan has been developed with the National Clinical
Leads for Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Surgery, Acute Medicine, Transportation Medicine, Paediatrics and Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Anaesthesia.
“The Clinical Leads for General Practice, Older People and Mental Health were not consulted. There was no consultation with the public or stakeholders from the region. We have not had sight of this plan.
“As local stakeholders we have a valuable perspective on how planning for MRH Portlaoise should proceed. This perspective has been excluded from the process.
“We have received no communication from the Clinical Leads. Our views were not sought and there is no evidence that the perspective we and our Consultant Colleagues set out in the Stakeholder Document was considered by Dr. O’ Reilly and her colleagues.
“According to HIQA, in its national standards for
Safer Better Healthcare: 1.1 ‘The planning, design and delivery of services are informed by service users’ identified needs and preferences’. HIQA places a clear obligation on planners to consult
proactively with the service users and stakeholders.”
The statement was signed by Michelle Byrne, Simon Honan, John Madden, Sean Montague, Mary Sheehan and Gerry White on behalf of the Laois Faculty of the ICGP and MIDOC Members.
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