Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and I support it. People referred to change for the better earlier. The people of Monaghan have not seen change for the better, as 10,000 residents who recently took to the streets would attest. While this debate is about public and private hospitals, we in Monaghan are not in a position to reject either type. I would accept either and would help to identify a site for one.

The recent Teamwork report on hospital services in the north east is supposed to be a national blueprint but the report fails in a number of areas. There was no consultation with consultants, staff or GPs, those at the coalface. They were left out of the loop but these are the people who are expected to deliver these services. It was a case of Teamwork knows best.

We were told by Professor Drumm that Teamwork ignored all previous reports. That was careless, to put it mildly, or perhaps the group simply dusted down a version of the failed British model. It is incredible that Teamwork also ignored CAWT, the cross-Border health body. We are supposed to accept this as the best way forward but I find that difficult.

We are also supposed to accept the closure of intensive care units in each of the four hospitals in the north east and their move to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Is that the best way forward, to send people to a hospital that regularly has 10% to 15% of the national trolley count and appeals to people not to attend because it is full to the gills? Professor Drumm has said that the people of Monaghan are scaremongering, even though 17 people died when the hospital was taken off call. Thankfully it is back on medical call, although I would like to see it on surgical call.

Tonight's debate is about public and private hospitals. Before any decision is made, I call on the Government to consider the system operated by InterHealth Canada, a private company that builds hospitals for the public health system. There are models in Canada, the UAE and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The company opened an NHS hospital in Cheshire on 5 October.

See this speech in context