Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and I commend my United Left Alliance colleagues for bringing it forward. It is vitally important to put our health and hospital services at the forefront and to have them discussed in the House.

I will speak about a hospital that is consistently the most efficient in the country, Letterkenny General Hospital. Since 2009, Letterkenny General Hospital's budget has been cut by €20 million, from €115 million to €95 million. This year the hospital will have a substantial deficit and next year the indications are that there will be a further 7% cut in its budget, which will bring it down to €90 million. This is the most efficient hospital in the country. Since 2009, the staff have been reduced by 113 because of the senseless embargo on recruitment imposed on the hospital. Nevertheless, the hospital continues to provide care for patients, although under unbearable circumstances.

The minimum amount needed to keep this hospital the most efficient in the country is approximately €104 million each year. A total of 93% of the activity in Letterkenny General Hospital is non-elective, emergency services. Approximately 120,000 patients pass through the hospital every year, yet the hospital will experience a 7% cut again next year in its budget - so much for money following the patient. The most efficient hospital in the country will be savaged by further cuts. Money following the patient is rubbish. It does not and will not happen.

At what point will our health services become dangerous with not enough staff to keep them going? It appears there is no point this Government will not go to in ensuring that cuts are imposed on hospitals that are working well and providing services for the county in which they are located. Letterkenny General Hospital is probably the exception to those mentioned in the motion in that it has not experienced massive closures in the accident and emergency department or withdrawal of other services. It is maintaining its services but it is constantly hammered by repeated budget cuts. Money does not follow the patient in this health service, and it will not happen as long as the diktat of the IMF-EU troika and the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government continues to hold sway.

The recruitment embargo has resulted in a reduction of nine members of staff in the X-ray department in Letterkenny General Hospital. The HSE closed the community X-ray facilities around the county and brought the staff into the hospital to keep the service going. This hospital shows all the other hospitals that regardless of what one does, one will be hammered by cuts.

The HSE must ensure that services in Letterkenny are protected by providing €104 million per year. It must show that money follows the patient. A hospital that is carrying out 93% of non-elective activity needs €104 million to maintain its services. I ask the Government to show in 2012 that money follows the patient and ensure that Letterkenny General Hospital's budget is not cut again in the future.

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