The transferring of non-urgent patients to Roscommon hospital via ambulance has had its benefits.
That's according to hospital manager Mary Garvey who says while the numbers using the service to date have been low the experience of these patients have been positive.
In mid-January the HSE confirmed the decision that ambulances would transfer patients to the facility in an effort to help ease overcrowding in Emergency Departments across the region.
Speaking to Shannonside FM this week Mary Garvey outlined how the process was working.
"It's in place and it's working fine. I suppose the numbers are quite low because in reality we haven't changed anything that we're actually doing and normally if you are sick enough to have an ambulance called, you are normally too sick to be at Roscommon University Hospital. We do tend to err on the side of caution because of our geographical location. We and the ambulance staff don't want to put anyone into jeopardy. For the few patients that have co0me in, it's been a positive experience. They've managed to avoid an ED in the surrounding hospitals and they are admitted and treated quite quickly".
