May I express my gratitude for being given the opportunity to raise a matter which is of great concern to the people of Longford? This matter appeared on today's Order Paper as Question No. 39 which, unfortunately, was not reached. On behalf of the people of Longford I want to express the shock they felt when they heard of the premature closure of the Longford County Hospital.
The purpose of raising this subject this evening was to appraise the Minister of the very serious concern which is widespread throughout the community. At a public meeting held last Monday night and attended by approximately 700 people from all walks of life — industry, the chamber of commerce, the ICA, cultural and social organisations, sporting organisations and concerned parents — very serious concern was expressed. The proposed closure of Longford County Hospital at the end of the month poses very serious problems for the community. They see themselves without any type of emergency or casualty service.
I am sure the Minister appreciates that I am not raising this subject to score political points because we all know agreement was reached and confirmed by the Minister and by the Midland Health Board on many occasions that the Longford County Hospital would not close until the new casualty unit, which would provide a 24-hour service, was built and was in operation. But a new situation developed recently with the premature retirement of the surgeon. This was no fault of the Minister or of the county surgeon. I would like to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to Mr. Barrett for the magnificent service he has rendered to that community for the past 18 years. I wish him well and good health in his retirement, but this has raised a very serious problem.
To my knowledge the planning for the casualty unit is in the early stages. Tonight the Minister will have an opportunity to tell us exactly what the position is, to give a guaranteed commitment that this casualty unit will be provided, and also to give us the time scale. People are afraid that if the hospital is allowed to close on 31 January, apart from leaving us without a casualty or emergency service, there is the possibility that at some time in the future the Department or the Midland Health Board might decide not to proceed with the casualty unit. I am giving some of my time to Deputy O'Rourke and she will tell us of a similar incident in Athlone when, despite guarantees and commitments, nothing was delivered.
The Minister must appreciate the problem in Longford. I got a clear mandate from the meeting last Monday to put the facts before the Minister and to ask him to meet a deputation. I have spoken to him about this. I appreciate how busy he is the week before the budget, but he said he will consider meeting them later. He said that until he hears the up-to-date position from the chief executive officer of the Midland Health Board he will not be in a position to comment. I hope that tonight he will be able to give clear answers to my questions.
There are reports in the local newspapers of alternative services being arranged at the St. Joseph's and Mount Carmel complex. If the Minister is pursuing that line. I want him to give clear and unequivocal answers to these questions. Has any agreement been reached with the consultants? Has agreement been reached with the general medical practitioners for their services? There are serious doubts that such agreements have been reached. Perhaps the Minister would clarify these matters.
The people want the Minister to honour the commitment given on many occasions — and repeated by him in Longford town in November 1983 when he opened a mentally handicapped centre — that Longford County Hospital will remain open until the new casualty unit is built. I want him to tell the people of Longford that that commitment will be honoured. I am not asking for extra expenditure because I understand that nobody could have foreseen that this hospital would close in 1986. Consequently the money provided in the Estimates for the running of this hospital should still be there. All we are looking for is what we are entitled to and that is to keep the hospital open and to provide cover by consultants from Mullingar until such time as those services can be transferred to the Mount Carmel Hospital complex. The Minister should approve the appointment of a temporary surgeon or arrange cover by consultants in Mullingar to run this hospital in conjunction with the general medical practitioners. The Minister will appreciate the shock felt by the staff in that hospital and the temporary staff who will be replaced in St. Joseph's Hospital complex if the county hospital closes, because the proposal is to move the permanent staff from the county hospital to St. Joseph's. They will replace temporary staff there. There are people there who have major commitments with regard to mortgages and so on and they will not be able to meet those commitments. People will lose jobs unnecessarily in St. Joseph's Hospital.
All estimates would have been based on the County Longford hospital staying open for the period of 12 months. I want answers to these questions from the Minister tonight. The meeting last Monday night became very emotive. The matter of health in any community can generate emotional and angry scenes. I do not want to see this community rise up in anger. Commitments were given to them which they accepted in good faith. It is within the power of the Minister to allay their fears. We should get on with building the new unit as soon as possible.
At the meeting doubts were expressed about whether we would ever get the new unit and the chairman had difficulty in controlling the meeting and in keeping the temperature down. The people at that meeting said then — and they will repeat this to the Minister when he receives them — that they will be looking for full hospital services in Longford, not just the unit that may or may not be made available. I have no reason to believe we will not get that unit. I have been assured by the health board that it is in the early planning stages. The Minister may correct me but I believe that the plans will now be sent for final drawings and will be ready for tender when the Department examine them. Perhaps the Minister can indicate tonight the length of time involved. It is important that we know this, particularly in view of the emotive atmosphere in Longford with regard to this matter.
In 1932 a site was bought for a county hospital in Longford and money was spent on services. During the years since then people did not really believe that Longford hospital would ever close. When the point comes to close it the people are entitled to get a suitable replacement. I cannot see any reason why the hospital cannot be kept going until the new unit is built. That commitment was given time and time again.
There is another matter the Minister might clarify tonight. There is talk that the post of surgeon which was temporary for 18 years has been made permanent. The question was raised at the meeting last Monday night that if the post has been made permanent why is it not being filled. I do not know the situation. I wish to know from the Minister if he is prepared to approve the appointment so that the services can keep going. Is it the case that Comhairle na nOspidéal have to approve it or is ministerial approval sufficient on its own?
There is also doubt about the legality of the situation. The closure of Longford hospital is bound up in a rationalisation plan of services prepared by the Midland Health Board. Part of that was the provision of the new unit, with the hospital to remain open until the new unit was built. A doubt has been expressed by eminent legal people in Longford that the Midland Health Board have a legal obligation to continue with those services and that of the CEO of the board has no statutory authority to order the closure of Longford hospital at the end of January. If I cannot get a satisfactory solution to the problem in the House tonight, it may be that the statutory legal situation in relation to the CEO's decision to close the hospital will be challegened in the High Court. Perhaps the Minister would give us his views on that matter. It might save people a lot of trouble. The fact that consideration is being given to challenging the matter in the High Court is a reflection of the depth of feeling and the anger now pervading the community. They are prepared to go to any lengths to ensure that the commitments given to them are honoured. They will not accept being left without hospital services.
Longford is a growing industrial town. There are plenty of new industries but every day there is a serious risk with regard to accidents which inevitably occur. Sporting organisations, the GAA, rugby, soccer and hurling clubs have used the hospital, as have the various industrial concerns. Not least, parents have had to take their children to hospital on many occasions with minor injuries.
I have listed all the questions to the Minister and I hope he can respond satisfactorily to them. Emotions and anger are building up in the community. What is needed is clear answers from the Minister that the hospital will remain open until the unit is in place. The Minister must ensure that consultants cover is given so that we may continue with the level of services obtaining until we get what everyone told us we would have, namely, a new casualty unit.
