Call for injury clinic in Leitrim rejected amid pressure on Sligo Emergency Department

It has been confirmed that there are no plans to develop an urgent care centre or minor injury clinic at Our Lady’s Community Hospital in Manorhamilton.

The call for such a facility was made at the Northwest Regional Health Forum by Cllr Felim Gurn, who stated that the A&E department at Sligo University Hospital (SUH) is “always at capacity levels all year round.”

Currently, there are no injury units in Leitrim. Aside from the A&E department in Sligo, the nearest injury unit is located at Roscommon University Hospital. This unit operates seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm.

“The concept of having an urgent care centre or minor injury clinic at Our Lady’s Hospital Manorhamilton where we have radiographers and X-ray machine with back up of staff like what’s available at Roscommon hospital would take pressure off A&E in SUH. This should be given serious consideration,” stated Cllr Gurn’s motion.

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A response to the motion from John Fitzmaurice, Integrated Health Area Manager for Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and West Cavan, confirmed that there are no agreed plans to develop an injury unit or urgent care centre in Manorhamilton.

His response noted that there is a national plan in place regarding the location and development of minor injury units across the country.

“These services are developed in line with national service planning and require appropriate strategic assessment to ensure they are located where they can best meet population need and be safely supported,” he stated.

As part of this plan, the HSE West and North West Region is due to open a Minor Injury Unit in Ballina, with currently no plans to provide this service in Leitrim.

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