HSE plans to downgrade the Accident and Emergency department at Navan Hospital are all but complete.

That’s the message from the Chairman of Meath County Council Chairman Nick Killian after he read a letter from the HSE in to the Minutes of Monday’s council meeting.

“There is absolute anger amongst councillors over this proposal and the reality is that Meath is going to be left with no A&E despite the fact that it has one of the quickest growing population numbers in the Country,” he told Meath Live.

His comments come after Meath County Council received correspondence from Liam Woods, Director of Implementation with the Health Service Executive in response to matters put forward to the HSE in July.

The letter which was read out at Monday’s Council meeting stated in clear terms that “The plan is to replace the ED [Emergency Department] with a 24-hour medical assessment unit.”

This amounted to a repeat of the message issued by Consultant surgeon Gerry McEntee when he announced the planned closure during the Summer.

Nick Killian

According to Nick Killian, the decision has been taken without any input from local representatives, a development that amounts to being a complete snub.

“There was no representation from councillors, patient representatives or locals on this decision. It is quite clear that the HSE has no intention to retain the A&E at Navan and has been deliberately running down the department for the past number of years,” said Nick.

Nick went on to say that, “The people of Meath have been left high and dry by [Health] Minister Stephen Donnelly.

“The North-East Doctor on call service now closes down at 10.30pm. Where are people expected to go if they find themselves taking ill or in an accident?”

Under the Plan, all A&E patients will be brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda which has been upgraded to being a Centre of Excellence to correspond with the downgrading of services in Dundalk and Monaghan.

The wind-down of A&E at Navan will complete that strategy.

A major protest by locals is planned for the HSE HQ opposite Heuston train station in Dublin on Friday October 14th next at 12 pm.

According to Council Chairman Nick Killian, “A lot of questions have to be asked about our senior politicians in particular the three Government ministers from Co. Meath.

“The wind-down of A&E services in Navan will be a disaster for the County.”