The HSE has said a move which could have restored 24-hour A&E care to Ennis 'would not be in the overall interests of patient safety and care in the Mid-West.'
The acting head of the UL Hospitals group was responding to calls for the county hospital to be upgraded to a Model 3 facility.
The UL Hospitals Group is the only national hospital group without a Model 3 hospital. That would have facilities to deal with acute medical conditions, and would be operational seven days a week.
It's hoped the development of a Model 3 would ease overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick while in June, then-Health Minster James Reilly admitted the issue needed to be examined closely.
Now, though, the HSE says no upgrade will take place.
After Clare County Council called for Ennis to be upgraded, the Acting Head of the UL Hospitals Group wrote to local representatives to say the Mid-West has 'sufficient population to maintain one full-time Emergency Department.'
Noreen Spillane says 'diverting resources into a Model 3 hospital would be retrograde step' involving a 'duplication of services' which 'could deprive the Mid-West of developing a Premier Model 4 Teaching Hospital.'
She adds that by developing Ennis as a Model 2 facility, the HSE will maintain a 'strong, viable, modern service there' and deliver 'better health care for patients.'
