asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the County Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly has been recognised by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland as a suitable hospital for part of the general training of physicians for membership of the college; and if the downgrading of the hospital will be a retrograde step not in the interest of the patients or the training physicians.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Hospital.
2.
I am aware that posts in the County Hospital, Tullamore, are recognised by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland as suitable for six months of the training of doctors undergoing general professional training in general medicine. When the Government's decisions on the general hospital development plan are implemented in the Midland Health Board area it will be a matter for the appropriate medical training authorities to determine the arrangements in the new situation. The implementation of the new hospital plan should undoubtedly result in the provision of better medical training facilities generally.
Will the Minister not agree that the decision of the Royal College of Physicians shows that the Tullamore hospital has a high standing in the medical profession? Further, does he not agree that it is a wrong decision to destroy the reputation of the hospital?
This revolves around the general hospital plan. It has been decided and accepted by the Midland Health Board that two hospitals will be developed—one at Portlaoise and one at Mullingar and that the Tullamore hospital will be regarded as a community hospital. In those circumstances it would not be designated for the training which the Deputy suggests. There would be adequate facilities in the other two hospitals in the midland region, Portlaoise and Mullingar, to cope with the people who want special training.
Is the Minister aware that at a recent meeting of the Midland Health Board in Tullamore the board unanimously agreed to ask the Minister to maintain the existing services in the county hospital in Tullamore and, where possible, to improve the services? Is the Minister aware that they decided to ask him to maintain all the existing services in the county hospital in Tullamore and retain it as a county hospital?
Tullamore hospital will carry on as it has been for a long time. It will carry on until the other two hospitals are enlarged in order to fit in with the general hospital plan. There will be no diminution of the services until the other two hospitals are reconstructed and made suitable for use as an acute general hospital.
On a point of information, will Tullamore be made a community hospital now?
As soon as the hospital plan has been completed it will be a community hospital.
Is it likely that in the general hospital development plan surgical, maternity and medical services will be maintained and continued in the county hospital, Tullamore?
How will they? The Deputy is in the labour unit now.
He is on the drip.
Can the Minister give any coherent reason why when he had an acceptable plan for this area he should shelve that plan and bring about a situation which now obtains, and which was inevitable, that there is an outcry from everybody associated with and involved in Tullamore? Why should the Minister bring on himself this row and confrontation when he already had a coherent plan in existence for the area which would work and had been accepted?
Is the Deputy referring to the Fitzgerald Report?
To that part of the Fitzgerald Report which dealt with the midland region.
The hospitals that have been recognised are varied and in many parts of the country. When the hospital plan has been completed Tullamore will be a community hospital. It will no longer be possible then for those who have done their intern course to train for three years in various hospitals, including Tullamore, in order to gain recognition. As far as the general hospital plan is concerned—the Deputy made some reference to the Fitzgerald Report recently and said that his successor had dumped it—in respect of Laois, Offaly and Westmeath it was agreed by the Midland Health Board. I accepted the recommendation of that board and I accepted the recommendations from the various health boards throughout the country.
The Minister accepted the proposals of the Midland Health Board in relation to the hospitals in Portlaoise and Mullingar but is the Minister aware that there has been a change in the plan?
That is not in order and the Deputy will have to find another opportunity of making a speech on this subject.
I have no details of any new proposals.
I know Deputy Enright is very much in the labour theatre now but I should like to know if it is true that the report made by the Minister in regard to the hospital plan for the midland region is final and will not be altered in any way?
That is correct. I have said that about 15 times.
On a point of information, it is not open to negotiation or alteration in any way?
Is the Deputy asking the Minister or telling him?
I am not telling the Minister; he has told me. The Deputy can look for maternity or anything he likes.