Roscommon University Hospital

Roscommon University Hospital (Irish: Ospidéal Ollscoile Ros Comáin) is a general hospital based in Roscommon, Ireland. It is situated on the N61 just outside Roscommon town. It is managed by Saolta University Health Care Group.[1]

Roscommon University Hospital
Health Service Executive
Roscommon University Hospital
Shown in Ireland
Geography
LocationRoscommon, Ireland
Coordinates53.6250°N 8.1773°W / 53.6250; -8.1773
Organisation
Care systemHSE
TypeGeneral
Services
Beds115
History
Opened1941
Links
Websitewww.saolta.ie/hospital/ruh

History

Early history

The hospital was built at a cost of £120,000 and at the time it was built it had "98 beds for surgical and medical cases, in addition to special children's and maternity wards".[2] It was commissioned to replace the infirmary at Abbeytown (now the County Library) and opened as Roscommon County Hospital in November 1941.[3] The hospital's maternity department effectively closed in 1978 when the Health Board refused to appoint an obstetrician-gynaecologist to the hospital.[4]

Closure of accident & emergency services

The Roscommon Hospital Action Committee (HAC) was a campaign group established to protest against the downgrading of Accident and Emergency services at the hospital.[5] In December 2006, the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee criticised what it called the "fudged language" of the Health Service Executive (HSE) on emergency care at the hospital.[6] Later, in August 2010, thousands of people marched through Roscommon to the hospital where they made a human chain.[7]

Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed the downgrading of emergency services at the hospital while visiting Roscommon to open a constituency office for Denis Naughten on 27 June 2011. He was met by protesters.[5] While campaigning ahead of the general election earlier that year, Kenny had been recorded by a journalist promising emergency care would be kept at the hospital if people voted for Naughten and Frank Feighan. In July 2011, when the downgrading of services had been confirmed and the recording made public, Kenny spoke of his regret for the confusion his words may have caused voters.[8]

During July and August 2011, members of the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee protested at Leinster House, at several bridges over the River Shannon,[9] and at a sit-in at the hospital's 24-hour emergency unit.[10][11][12]

After a woman discovered files containing the personal details of hundreds of patients from the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, in a bin outside Roscommon Hospital, she gave them to the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee which passed them on to the Data Protection Commissioner.[13] Three investigations were established.[14]

In late 2011, despite protests by the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee, the hospital's Accident and Emergency unit closed[15] and was replaced with an "Urgent Care Unit".[16]

Recent history

The hospital became Roscommon University Hospital in November 2015.[17]

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References
  1. "Six hospital groups 'most fundamental reform in decades'". Irish Medical Times. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. Irish Times, 31 December 1941, p. 36
  3. Irish Times, 31 December 1941, p. 36
  4. Irish Times, 5 September 1978, p. 11
  5. O'Regan, Michael (28 June 2011). "Protesters confront Taoiseach over decision to cut Roscommon services". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  6. "Fight for hospital still 'as real as ever'". Roscommon Herald. 13 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2006.
  7. "8,000 protest over Roscommon hospital". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  8. "Kenny regrets confusion over Roscommon issue". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  9. "Roscommon hospital group plans protests". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  10. Siggins, Lorna (10 August 2011). "Pledge to continue hospital protest". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  11. "Protest as 24/7 service ends at Roscommon hospital". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  12. McDonagh, Marese (9 August 2011). "Protesters block doors as hospital cuts service". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  13. Ó Caollaí, Éanna; McDonagh, Marese (11 August 2011). "Inquiries into Roscommon files find". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  14. "Three inquiries into dumped medical records". RTÉ News. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  15. "Roscommon now the Baghdad of treaty war". Irish Independent. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  16. "Roscommon: Urgent care centre to open Monday". RTE. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  17. "New name for Roscommon Hospital". Boyle Today. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
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