I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me time to raise this urgent matter, namely, the need for the Minister for Health and Children to clarify her position on the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. I would like her to assure me this evening that the withdrawal of services from the hospital and the refusal of scan and X-ray services to public patients are not indicative of the closure of the hospital by stealth. The hospital is a valuable and much-needed health facility for the midlands.
What exactly are the Minister's plans for the hospital? The completion of phase 2B at the hospital must be one of the longest sagas of inefficiency on the part of her Department, despite the ring-fencing of €57 million for the hospital 12 years ago. This sum has ended up being drip fed over the past 12 years and work has not been completed to date. Longford-Westmeath was assured services in the area would be fully supplied and remain at the hospital. However, among other cutbacks, the breast cancer unit was withdrawn in November 2007, 25 beds have been closed at the hospital, front-line staff numbers have been reduced, budgets have been cut, transport vouchers have been withdrawn and now post mortem services are to be redirected to Tullamore hospital. Scans and X-rays are apparently unavailable for public patients and lives are being put at risk.
Last September, the HSE supported the issuing of bogus appointments for a consultant dermatologist in a department that did not exist at the hospital. This meant seriously ill patients were being given appointments for a consultant who had left the hospital six months previously. A new consultant had not been appointed and the department was effectively closed. Appointments were cancelled at the last moment and patients were strung along in a blatant cover-up.
I draw the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Connick, to the latest health-threatening cutback at Mullingar hospital. I ask that a full investigation be carried out by the Minister for Health and Children in regard to it. Public patients are being refused scans and X-rays at the hospital and it is alleged that general practitioners are being forced to refer patients to Dublin hospitals on a private basis. This is putting the gun to the heads of vulnerable patients, who are, once again, being forced to put their hands into their own pockets to avail of necessary procedures.
It is scandalous that the Department of Health and Children is putting in place measures to ensure patients must either go without investigative procedures or pay privately for scans or X-rays. If this is a deliberately orchestrated response to general practitioners' referrals, the Minister should consider her position. If it is the case, I will accept nothing less than a resignation from her because she is totally incompetent and inefficient in her administration of the health service.
Irrespective of whether this scandal is geared to close the hospital by stealth or not, it should be thoroughly investigated. If this is happening in Mullingar Regional Hospital, then the chances are that this directive is in place around the country. Longford lost its hospital, which was closed in 1986. Guarantees were given that a full service would be available to all in Mullingar. This is not proving to be the case. Longford-Westmeath relies on this valuable hospital, which is one of the top performing hospitals in the country. It must be supported by the HSE in an open and fully transparent manner, with all the necessary services being provided.
I stress that a deliberate and cold-hearted campaign of axing services in Mullingar Regional Hospital, to the detriment of the health of the people of Longford-Westmeath will not be tolerated and questions must be answered by the Minister.
Why are patients being denied life-saving procedures? Why is it that under this Minister's watch patients' lives are continually being put at risk in this hospital? I demand answers here this evening.