Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

The Minister of State therefore understands that the roads in County Meath are not as good as those of other counties and that people have a long way to travel in an emergency. We are all aware of the need for crash or heart attack victims to be treated in a hospital within the golden hour. I acknowledge that plans have been made to introduce modern technology and additional paramedic staff in the north east but these facilities are not currently available, so it would be wrong to withdraw surgical services from Navan Hospital. A reduction in services certainly would not protect patients.

However, nobody has met the people of County Meath to discuss the issue properly. We are told in meeting after meeting that surgical services in Navan were not adequate but the answer seems to be to withdraw the services rather than propose ways of improving them. The real solution involves providing additional staff and resources so that the hospital has a proper surgical department which serves the needs of the area. Ten years is a long time to wait for a new hospital, especially when the existing services have already suffered from ten years of neglect. The last time proper capital investment was made in Navan Hospital was under the rainbow Government. The accident and emergency department has been housed in a portakabin for the past 30 years.

The report, which is supposed to set out the future of health services in the north east, recommends a reduction in the services provided at the hospital. That does not appear to be patient centred. I have asked Professor Drumm, who says he would be happy to debate his ideas for the health service with anybody, to explain his intentions to the people of the north east because we do not believe him. The hospital has been neglected for years and we hear daily announcements that services are to be withdrawn. The laboratory service has been reduced, with the result that blood samples and other material are sent at great expense to the UK for assessment.

I ask that the Government engages with the people of the north east rather than lecture us. Few people in County Meath are trained to Professor Drumm's level but we know what we want and need. It is up to the Minister for Health and Children and the professor to tell us we are getting a better service or else to admit that our existing services are being withdrawn.

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