Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for the opportunity to speak on this tragic issue. The death of Frances Sheridan, aged nine, has brought back into the limelight the extremely serious problem of the mismanagement of Cavan-Monaghan hospital group. I express my sympathy with the Sheridan family, as I did personally yesterday. I am disgusted by the media intrusion into this family's great tragedy.

The problems of this hospital group have gone beyond a joke. Top-quality nurses and staff are under severe pressure because of the Minister's lack of leadership and that of the health board executives. The health board members must also carry the blame, because all but one of those representing County Cavan ignored the problems being experienced in Monaghan and now the overflow from Monaghan General Hospital is causing many of the problems at Cavan General Hospital. The Minister has failed to bring Monaghan General Hospital back on call since last July. The health board management and the Minister have allowed Cavan General Hospital to lurch into a similar situation, with many patients failing to receive the treatment they deserve. Good hospital staff and services are now receiving very bad publicity. The Taoiseach must take responsibility for this and the Minister must come under scrutiny and consider his position. I have had a good relationship with the Minister and have worked closely with him as much as I could. However, Monaghan General Hospital is still not on call and there are serious problems in Cavan General Hospital. There are serious questions to be asked. People and patients must come first. Internal disputes and management problems must be dealt with by someone who cares — someone who will take things under control.

I will finish with a quote from a five-page letter I received from a Cavan constituent who was treated in Monaghan General Hospital:

In the fifties, dedicated doctors and nurses were fully equipped to deal with patients on arrival. Now fifty years later, in the age of modern times and technology, we are fighting for and praying for hospital survival.

I will pass this letter on to the Minister because it is revealing.

See this speech in context