New Plans Could See Trauma Care Centres Cut From Dublin Hospitals

Trauma care for patients could be dropped at three of Dublin's hospitals as part of a new centralisation strategy to be proposed by Health Minister Simon Harris. 

Those hospitals would no long treat patients with serious injuries from car crashes or other accidents. 

Instead, they would treat smaller injuries and minor wounds and burns and a major trauma centre would be set up in the capital. 

The proposed strategy is an effort to cut down on overcrowding and save lives, The Sunday Business Postreports. 

At the moment, Dublin is served by six trauma centres at the Mater, St. Vincent's, Connelly, St. James's, Tallaght and Beaumont. 

In 2014 and 2015, nearly a third of major trauma patients had to be moved to another hospital for treatment. 

Nine other trauma hospitals around the country also face having their services cut, including Cavan, Naas, Portinuncula, St Luke's in Kilkenny, Wexford, Mullingar, South Tipperary, Mercy University in Cork and Portlaoise Hospitals.

A second major trauma centre would be set up in Cork. 

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