As a result of the emergency which has arisen at the Longford-Westmeath General Hospital in Mullingar, I urge this House to bear with me so that I can explain why it is so important for the Minister to give phase 2 of the hospital extension the go-ahead and to have immediate approval of a tender submitted to the Department last year.
The prefabricated buildings at Longford-Westmeath General Hospital have been there for 25 years. They are serving as the casualty, accident and emergency departments at the hospital. These buildings are in a state of decay and are a danger to the health of the staff and patients.
Last Sunday night hundreds of people attended a public meeting in Mullingar and showed their anger, annoyance and frustration at the terrible conditions at the hospital and they await this announcement by the Department. Many people stated the case clearly and some outlined personal experiences. Individuals of 70 years of age recounted the terrible ordeal of receiving medical attention in these conditions. Many explained that they waited four, five or six hours before they were attended to in the admission unit.
The patient intake in this hospital has doubled, and has been increasing over a number of years. On average, 350 patients go through these prefab buildings every week. Approximately 650 patients attend the X-ray department which is also housed in a prefabricated building. The throughput of patients in the Longford-Westmeath General Hospital for 1992 was 12,000. The population of Longford-Westmeath exceeds 100,000.
Longford-Westmeath General Hospital is one of the most efficient in the Midland Health Board area with a total admission cost of £148 per patient. It must not be punished for its efficiency by allowing these terrible conditions to continue. The Minister of State, when in the Department of Health, approved the extension for tender and fully supports having this work completed as a matter of urgency. She knows at first hand the conditions at the hospital. I am delighted to see her here this evening taking this motion on the Adjournment.
The chief surgeon at the hospital in Mullingar, Dr. Mina, has publicly warned that the morale of the staff at the hospital is under serious threat and that something must be done immediately. He said the water is coming through the roof of the prefabs and destroying documentation in the records section. This shows clearly the condition of these prefabs.
To recapitulate for 25 years there have been prefabs at the hospital. This is totally unacceptable. In 1985 the Midland Health Board decided to rationalise the hospital service in the Longford-Westmeath area and build a new general hospital in Mullingar. The Department of Health have kept their word and given us a £10 million extension in Mullingar and the facilities there are second to none. Now we are looking for a new admission unit to serve the 100,000 people in the catchment area. This admission unit would cost £5.5 million which could be spread over three years. A sum of £40 million has been allocated under this year's capital programme and it would take very little to build this facility.
I invite the Minister for Health to visit Mullingar and see the situation for himself. We look forward to him signing the documents of tender and getting the work started.
May I give the remaining time to Senator Belton?