Green light for Injury Care Centre for Carlow
St Dympna's Hospital
CARLOW has been confirmed as a location for an Injury Care Centre, an alternative to A&E which is suitable for minor injuries.
Minister of health Stephen Donnelly confirmed this week that Carlow has been earmarked as a location for such a centre, with St Dympna’s Hospital the most likely location.
“I’m delighted the minister Donnelly has confirmed to me that Carlow will get an Injury Care Centre, a place that can treat minor injuries but will also have an x-ray unit,” stated deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.
“Minister Donnelly has been in Carlow five or six times in recent months and is aware of the need for such a centre in Carlow. The reason it is so important in Carlow is our population growth. St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, like many A&Es around the country is very busy, so it is important that locations like Carlow that don’t have a hospital has a place where small injuries can be treated,” she added.
“There isn’t a timeframe at the moment but I will be pushing to have this sooner rather than later, we have to get this over the line,” said deputy Murnane O’Connor.
An Injurty Care Unit is equipped to treat conditions such as sprains and broken bones, wounds, bites, cuts, grazes, minor burns and minor facial injuries.
General election candidate cllr Adrienne Wallace pointed out that Carlovians have one of the farthest distances to travel to access A&E, which is St Luke’s in Kilkenny and it can also be difficult to get there if you don’t drive.
“I have been raising this issue for a long time now and passed motions in the council calling on the HSE to deliver an Injury Unit for Carlow and raised this in the Dáil via parliamentary questions from People Before Profit TDs. Reps from the HSE have confirmed that this is now a huge priority for them,” she said.
“A unit in St Dympna’s has been identified, but some refurbishment works are still needed, which will begin shortly. We could even have the injury unit open by 2025. This will be a huge bonus for Carlow and I am delighted the HSE has listened,” said cllr Wallace.
