Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 8 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 1

Hospital Accommodation.

Mr. P. McGrath

In 1997 phase 2A of the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar was built, involving the expenditure of €10 million of taxpayers' money. Among other things, it included a five-storey block. Since it was built, four of the five storeys have remained completely empty, in a warehouse state. Only one of the floors is fully in use. Finance is awaited to kit out the other four and provide the beds that are so badly needed at the hospital. This hospital is regularly over-crowded in the winter period. Four-bed units cater for six or seven patients. Staff are at their wits end trying to look after patients, all because the Department will not provide the additional funding needed to complete the remaining four storeys of the hospital and provide the additional beds and services that are so badly needed.

Nothing happened for the first five years since 1997. Then, because of the approaching election the Government set up a project team to start designing the new hospital. Ever since, money is being spent on the design. This year a total of €600,000 has been allocated for that purpose, yet nothing has been provided in services for patients.

At a health board meeting last April, Deputy Cassidy announced that a 12-bed unit would be completed at the hospital within a matter of weeks. Some 25 weeks later no progress is evident on that front. The then chairman of the health board, Senator Glynn, who also indicated that this would happen, supported him that day. The news was splashed across the front pages of the local papers, yet nothing has happened. Money must be provided to kit out this hospital.

Mr. Penrose

While I am pleased to see the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, in the House, I am disappointed the Minister, Deputy Martin, is not present. He has given so many commitments to us on the numerous occasions we raised the matter in the House.

The people of Longford and Westmeath – 110,000 people – believe there should be an inquiry into this issue. A four-storey building has been left idle since 1997. Crows are now nesting on the roof. It is an absolute scandal. Deputy McGrath is correct that there are six or seven beds in a four-bed cubicle. The patients are looking out the window at the finest building in the place with nothing in it. It is time to staff that four-storey unit and provide the additional 100 beds that were promised.

In his time on the health board, Deputy McGrath took every opportunity to do something about this matter. He was promised 12 beds but it was all a mirage based on promises that were made at election time. We are reflecting the anger of the people of Westmeath. We are not coming in here to engage in acts of tomfoolery. There has been too much back-sliding, foot dragging and setting up of project committees. Why was a design team only put in place in 2001 and why did it take two years and two months from August 2001 to get to where we are now? The people of Westmeath and Longford want to know what is going on. We are here to represent them.

A low taxation economy has been promoted by the Government and when the money does not come in, services cannot be provided. People do not have much chance of getting hospital beds – they are left in corridors and other such places. That is an indictment of the Government which has failed the people of Longford and Westmeath, as well as those elsewhere. It is an absolute disgrace and we will not take any more of this.

People have said to us that there should be an inquiry into why a four-storey building has been left uncompleted. It has been suggested that €57 million is required to complete the work. We will not be fobbed off. We want to know when the work will start, when it will be completed, when the staff will be put in place and when the people of these two counties will get the hospital beds they need. We are speaking on behalf of doctors, patients, attendants and the people who work to the best of their professional ability, as well as those we represent.

Mr. Ring

We will have to bring back the former Deputy, Senator Mary O'Rourke.

Mr. T. O'Malley

The Deputies will be aware that a comprehensive strategic policy framework for the acute hospital sector is set out in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You. Central to this policy framework is the decision by the Government to significantly increase bed capacity in acute hospitals over the period to 2011.

A detailed analysis of acute hospital bed capacity needs was conducted by the Department of Health and Children in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. The subsequent report titled, Acute Hospital Bed Capacity – A National Review, which was published last year, helped to inform the Government in its decision to provide a total of 3,000 additional acute beds for public patients over the period to 2011. This represents the largest ever concentrated expansion of acute hospital capacity in Ireland. In tandem with pub lication of the report, the Minister, Deputy Martin, announced the first phase of these additional beds with the commissioning of an extra 709 acute hospital beds at a cost of €65 million.

Mr. P. McGrath

How many in Mullingar?

Mr. T. O'Malley

The Department is advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards that 568 of the additional beds are already in place. It is a matter for the Midland Health Board to prioritise its service developments.

Mr. P. McGrath

Pass the ball again.

Mr. T. O'Malley

In advance of the bed capacity initiative, the Midland Health Board identified a priority need requirement to commission additional capacity through the new paediatric unit in Portlaoise General Hospital and a dialysis unit at Tullamore General Hospital. The new paediatric unit at Portlaoise General Hospital will have an additional five beds, giving a total of 25 paediatric beds. The new unit was recently opened and I understand that interviews are ongoing regarding the staffing of the additional beds.

In addition, a new dialysis unit is being commissioned at Tullamore General Hospital which will have six beds funded through the bed capacity initiative. Construction of the unit is almost complete and work is progressing on equipping and staffing of the unit.

The Midland Health Board is currently finalising the development control plan for phase 2B of the development of the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar. This development will significantly enhance bed capacity at the hospital.

Mr. P. McGrath

Live horse and you will get grass.

Mr. T. O'Malley

However, in the interim, the board has identified a need—

Mr. Penrose

That horse is long dead.

Mr. T. O'Malley

—for a 12-bed medical assessment unit at the hospital. Approval for this project, which was not identified by the board as part of the bed capacity initiative, is being considered by my Department in the context of the estimates process for 2004.