asked the Minister for Health if he will state the future status of Roscommon County Hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscommon County Hospital.
19.
The question of the future status of Roscommon County Hospital is a matter which will fall to be considered by the Western Health Board and the proposed Galway Regional Hospital Board. If any proposal involves a change in the function of any county hospital the County Advisory Health Committee will be asked to present their views. Pending such consideration it would be premature for me to make a statement in regard to the future status of the hospital.
I should add that some time will elapse before a decision can be taken in relation to the future status of many of the present county hospitals.
Would the Minister indicate that if there is to be a change in the status of hospitals, due notice will be given before such a change takes place? If so, how much notice?
Very ample notice will be given because even after the health board concerned and the regional hospital board concerned have made proposals these must be examined in my Department and by the newly-formed Comhairle na nOspidéal. The county advisory committees may also present evidence. As I have already indicated the problems associated with the choice of different hospitals stretching from the north-east down to Wexford will be difficult to resolve because of conflicting claims of many interests.
Surely the Minister is aware that Roscommon hospital is to be downgraded, that it was mentioned in the FitzGerald Report and that when Deputy Flanagan was Minister for Health he stated in this House that he was accepting that report and that Mullingar hospital would also be downgraded? When the then Minister was brought to Mullingar and put up on a public platform he was man enough not to deny this. He stated here that the Government were accepting the FitzGerald Report. The only person who has promised it will not be downgraded is the Minister for Transport and Power. The Minister for Health is well aware that this hospital will be downgraded, that regional hospitals are to be built and will be built where the regional officers are at present. Why not tell the people the truth and not be fooling them?
In reply to the Deputy, I have not told any untruth in regard to this. When my predecessor made the statement about the general acceptance in principle of the FitzGerald Report I concurred with him but since then there have been proposals, which will be coming before this House, for further structural changes in the carrying out of the health services, including the formation of the regional hospital boards. It has now been found possible to devise a means whereby all these matters can be considered.
Is the Minister stating that he is not accepting the FitzGerald Report, that we will not have regional hospitals, and that each county will have its own hospital?
I have said nothing of the kind. However, the Deputy can argue this if he wishes during the debate on the Estimate for the Department of Health. What I have said is that at some time from now, which date I cannot determine, it will be almost impossible to recruit a single surgeon for any hospital in this country if the growing specialisation continues. Therefore, regardless of any other reasons for having general hospitals with a greater number of specialists attached thereto, it will be essential at some time to make a choice as to where these general hospitals will be situated. There are a number of conflicting claims and, as the Deputy knows, if the claims now made, for example, in favour of Roscommon hospital as a general hospital were to be entertained this would diminish the claims of Tullamore and Mullingar hospitals, and so on, right down the Midlands. The House will be aware of the difficulty of resolving the dilemma posed by the many representations that have been and will be made to me from many sources.
Perhaps the Minister was so busy that he did not hear the Minister for Transport and Power on the radio during the last election campaign when he gave an assurance to his constituents that the Roscommon County Hospital would remain as it was?
There will be no change for a considerable time.
I wonder what the fortune teller told the Minister for Transport and Power?
I am calling Question No. 20.