Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I have visited both hospitals and seen at first hand the wonderful way in which the joint surgical department works. Essentially, day surgery is performed in Dundalk and more complex surgery in Drogheda. The system works well and the volume of surgical procedures in both hospitals has increased substantially as a result. The new road network makes the joint working process more acceptable than perhaps it would have been in a different era when the distance to be travelled was greater.

With regard to the report from the physicians of both hospitals, they suggest a similar process be put in place for medicine, that they should have a joint department of medicine — in effect, the two hospitals would work as one. Currently we might have patients on trolleys in Drogheda, while there are vacant beds in Dundalk. This makes no sense. If we can get hospitals such as those in Dundalk and Drogheda to work closely together, it makes more sense from patients' point of view.

As the Deputy is aware, there are significant deficiencies in the north east where we have five hospitals for a population of 350,000. The hospital admission rate in the area is 5.9 per 1,000. In the United Kingdom the rate is approximately 1.7 per 1,000. Half of all surgical cases and 30% of medical cases from the area are referred to Dublin. Therefore, there is a crying need for a state-of-the-art regional hospital and that will happen. That welcome decision has been made and endorsed by the Government. In the meantime, unlike other facilities and although we have made a decision to proceed with a new hospital, we must invest in the existing hospital infrastructure. We need a new accident and emergency department in Drogheda. This year over €6 million will be provided from the capital programme towards this year. We need other investment in personnel and staff in the region in order to provide services between now and the time we will have the new hospital in place.

It is not the case that nothing is happening. Much is happening. Above all else, we must take on board the reports commissioned and the advice of the training bodies on patient safety and accreditation. Dr. Eilís McGovern has been appointed by the HSE to oversee implementation of medium-term changes in the north east. The HSE and I have given an assurance that nothing will change until something better is put in its place. That is what is currently under way, and I expect the support of the Deputy and everyone else. Change is never easy, but patient safety must come first. We must use resources in County Louth as effectively as possible for the benefit of all patients.

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