Relocating Monaghan rapid response vehicle risks lives

THE relocation of the Rapid Response Vehicle from Monaghan to Castleblayney is putting the lives of patients in north Monaghan at risk, says Sinn Féin Councillor Brian McKenna, a member of the Dublin/North-East Regional Health Forum.

He said that the North-East Transformation document drawn up prior to the removal of acute medical cover from Monaghan General Hospital promised an enhanced ambulance service that included a Rapid Response Vehicle with appropriately-trained advanced paramedics to be based in the county town.

Since that withdrawal, the Rapid Response Vehicle has been moved to Castleblayney to provide cover in the north Louth areas and is “a hugely dangerous move,” Brian McKenna says.

“Where is the concern we hear regularly from HSE and Fianna Fáil spokespersons about patient safety and quality of care?

“The HSE and Government parties have once again broken their commitments to the people of Monaghan.”