asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the future of Longford County Hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Longford County Hospital.
3.
The question of the future of Longford County Hospital is a matter in the first instance for the Midland Health Board and I have no firm proposal in the matter from the board. However, the development of the general hospital at Mullingar is a high priority with the health board as it is with me. When fully developed this hospital will be capable of serving the population of counties Longford and Westmeath and has been planned on that basis. In the circumstances I can see no future for Longford County Hospital as a centre for the treatment of acute surgical inpatients in the long term.
Am I to take it that when the construction of the extension to Mullingar hospital is completed Longford hospital will close as a surgical unit? If so, when is the programme likely to get under way in Mullingar, particularly the construction part of it?
I am currently finalising the capital programme for 1983-1988 and I am extremely anxious not only to allocate but to divert resources to Mullingar, especially in the paediatric area. However, I stress that if Longford hospital is to be retained on an acute hospital basis for surgery, it will have serious consequences for the development of Mullingar hospital because that hospital is at an advanced stage of planning for a catchment population area of 95,000 people. If Longford is retained, Mullingar will lose 30 per cent to 35 per cent of the catchment area and it would leave the viability of Mullingar in some doubt. I hope I can reach agreement with the health board for a major development in Mullingar. The health board and the local public representatives are being very constructive on this issue.
Would the Minister accept that Longford County Hospital merits the provision of at least a casualty unit if and when Mullingar is finally developed? I should also like to ask if the health board have communicated anything to him in that respect.
I share the Deputy's view that there is still a need, especially in the areas of casualty, clinic and out-patients, for Longford hospital to play a role.
I wish to thank the Minister for the information he has given today. I ask him to bear in mind the casualty unit because Longford town cannot survive without it. It appears that Longford County Hospital has no future as a surgical unit. Is the Minister aware of a commitment given by the Fine Gael candidate on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, that if elected to Government, they would not alone maintain Longford County Hospital but would upgrade it as a surgical unit? In view of the replies the Minister has given, does he now disassociate himself from that commitment?
I have Departmental responsibility and I have come to the conclusion, after the most careful examination, that the retention of an isolated unit performing surgery only in Longford hospital is completely against the general concept of the programme for the development and rationalisation of the general hospital services in the midlands. The precise future of Longford hospital, perhaps not as a hospital but for immediate casualty, out-patients and clinic, could be considered but I cannot support the continuation of acute surgical work in the hospital.
Would the Minister maintain the existing services of Longford County Hospital until such a casualty unit is provided?
I am prepared to examine it. I want to discuss the matter with the health board and with my own professional staff in the Department of Health. I am far more concerned at present to develop Mullingar and then I will consider whether to close Longford hospital or whether there will be a particular facility within the hospital complex. That has to be discussed.