Minor Injury Unit 'envisaged' to expand by end of September

It has been confirmed that the Minor Injury Unit at Louth County Hospital will not be in a position to see patients between five and 14 years of age until the end of September at the earliest - a further delay in meeting previously set targets. 

The Minister for Health Simon Harris confirmed late last year that the unit would introduce an age reduction that would see children as young as five treated by February 2018. 

That date came and went and after the RCSI Hospitals group confirmed later in the year that the age reduction would come into place at some point during the summer, it was revealed - following a parliamentary question by Gerry Adams TD - that a further delay could arise due to 'unanticipated resignations'.

Now, in response to a further parliamentary question posed by Fergus O'Dowd TD and seen by the Dundalk Democrat, the RCSI Hospital group say they hope to have the Minor Injuries Unit services expanded by the end of September 2018. 

'It is envisaged that the Minor Injury Unit in Louth County Hospital will be in a position to see patients over five years of age with minor injuries by the end of 2018,' the response read. 

If the Minor Injury Unit's reduction in patient age for treatment eligibility does come to pass in September, it will still be eight months behind schedule as initially outlined by the Minister in November of last year during a visit to Dundalk.