Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to echo what my colleague, Deputy Murphy O'Mahony, said regarding district hospitals. The Minister knows that I am a fan of the district hospital network and that I believe that it has a vital role to play in modern-day health service delivery. District hospitals should not be seen as a relic of a bygone era because, with adequate investment, they can prevent or reduce admissions to acute hospitals and facilitate discharges from same.

Specifically with regard to the hospital in Belmullet, with the recent storm the director of nursing was forced to evacuate the patients to the physiotherapy department for fear that the windows might blow in. We recently had a HIQA inspection there, which I welcome, because while the level of nursing care is excellent the building is crumbling. Could the Minister provide some information on the investment planned for the hospital in Belmullet, the building works due to be carried out there and, if possible, a timeline for that?

Manyt of my young GP colleagues are emigrating. The Minister is aware of that. We must look at reversing the FEMPI cuts to attract GPs and keep them in rural areas in particular. There is a surgery close to me where a GP leaves more or less every two years because there is no future for them there. I would welcome clarification on that if possible.