Sir, – Martin Wall reports that Saturday consultant attendance did not improve flow in the emergency department in Letterkenny University Hospital during a pilot project (“Saturday hospital unit staffed by consultants saw just five patients over three months”, Health, September 14th).
This is not surprising to anyone who has had the misfortune to attend an emergency department during weekend hours. There is little point in having consultants on site if the back-up diagnostic resources are unavailable.
The report noted that “the supporting diagnostic infrastructure required for scheduled weekend care could not be provided”. Patients do not conveniently get sick between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. This is not a Letterkenny problem, this is a nationwide problem. When main teaching hospitals leave patients in pain on trolleys and beds until Monday morning when diagnostic scans can be carried out, then urgent change is needed.
The report also stated that “there was no interest in routine Saturday overtime”. Why is Saturday work in teaching hospitals, or any hospital, on an overtime basis? Saturday should be a routine working day in healthcare. In retail and hospitality, out-of-hours work is the norm. Why is healthcare different?
RM Block
A normal working week shouldn’t be Monday to Friday in hospital settings, when the role is to provide care to patients who don’t choose the timing of their healthcare emergency.
Consultants need to be present on site over weekends, but support from diagnostic staff is also required. This workday flexibility should be written into hiring contracts for all healthcare staff, why isn’t it? – Yours, etc,
BERNADETTE KEOGH,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
