The HSE Mid West has indicated that the high dependency unit at Ennis General will not be removed next week.
However, plans still remain in place to transfer ICU services to Limerick Regional Hospital as part of reconfiguration.
There have been serious concerns raised over its removal with high ranking medical figures in the Mid West indicating that Dooradoyle neither has the bed capacity or the staff to deal with the extra influx of patients.
During yesterday meeting of the HSE Forum West meeting, Regional Director of the Health Service Executive West John Hennessy was quizzed over the proposed transfer of acute services from Ennis General to Limerick Regional Hospital.
It comes amid widespread concern over the move- Consultants estimate that up to 70 percent of patients in Clare and Tipperary can no longer be treated at their local hospitals once the services are removed.
They added this would mean a 70 percent increase in medical admissions to Dooradoyle which they say is already working at well above 100 percent capacity.
In response to a question put forward at yesterday meeting by Clare’s Green party election candidate Brian Meaney- John Hennessy indicated the March 2 date will not be met and that there are issues around anaesthetic cover and the recruitment of a cardiologist for the Midwest .
He added that “the plan for the county hospital was quite straightforward – what could be managed safely will be done locally and what can be managed safely in the centre will be brought there”.
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