Joe Behan - Independent Councillor - Wicklow County Council

Spinal Services Withdrawn from St. Vincent's Hospital
1st November 2017

I have recently received news that St.Vincent’s Hospital has refused to accept referrals in future from GPs in County Wicklow for spinal reviews and other related orthopaedic services.

A local GP has informed me that this decision means that patients throughout County Wicklow will no longer have this essential service provided publicly at St.Vincent’s and it is unclear if it will be available at any other hospital such as Tallaght Hospital in the future.

I quote from one of a number of similar letters received by the GP in the last two weeks.

“Arising from recent changes in the composition of its specialist orthopaedic team, St.Vincent’s University Hospital is unfortunately no longer in a position to offer your patient an appointment in their Orthopaedic Department for a spinal review. Therefore, I am returning this referral to you with a view to you hopefully securing a spinal appointment for your patient in another hospital.”

This is clearly a blatant act of discrimination against patients who must use the public health system for help with painful spinal conditions and is another example of declining public health services for patients in County Wicklow.

I call on the Minister for Health and the HSE to investigate the circumstances surrounding this decision and to ensure that it is reversed as a matter of urgency.

Cllr. Joe Behan
Independent