Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

There has been systematic neglect of the acute hospital system in the north east. Louth County Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital are under extreme pressure for funding and staff. One year ago, Chris Lyons, hospitals network manager for the north east, said there was inadequate support in the budget for the increase in service demands experienced in 2005 and 2006. Grave concern has been expressed by local managers in this regard. There is unparalleled growth in the region's population, which increased by 13% since 1996. There is the possibility of significant closures of services, major patient safety issues, increased clinical risk and longer waiting lists. What did the HSE decide in its wisdom? It decided, because of its budgetary cutbacks, that with immediate effect all pending and new development posts would be put on hold in order to bring a reduction in recruitment costs of approximately €100,000. Patrick Kinder, head of the maternity services taskforce, wrote about Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in October last year. He said a serious risk obtained in the maternity unit there due to the increased levels of overtime, that the working of overtime at the levels indicated was not sustainable for any length of time and there was a critical need to review the recruitment process to avoid unnecessary delays in filling posts.

An advertisement from the HSE will appear in tomorrow's newspapers seeking to fill 25 new midwifery posts approved for the hospital, but the reality is these posts were needed a year ago. Due to lack of funding from the Government, the hospital is in a state of crisis. It is unacceptable that expectant mothers must wait for up to 20 weeks for their first appointment with their consultant. This is a shame and an utter disgrace. I call on the HSE and the Minister to publish the correspondence on the matter, particularly that between Mr. Patrick Kinder and the HSE.

The number of unfunded posts in the northern area HSE was 322, or 9% of all of those employed, in April 2006. Some 92% of the unfunded staff are employed in frontline services. The accident and emergency unit in Drogheda currently has 30 unfunded posts. The advertisement in tomorrow's newspapers states that a new 25-bay emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital will be up and running in early 2008.

The facts, as illustrated by the response I received to a freedom of information request, show that the accident and emergency unit was due to commence in autumn 2006 and be ready in 2007 and that any delay in that schedule would compromise patient safety based on the known risks. The accident and emergency unit in the hospital at that time was overrun and it was essential the new unit would begin as soon as possible to ensure continuity of services.

We have a HSE in crisis, a hospital system which is totally underfunded and problems with regard to anaesthetists in the hospital. Advertisements for three new anaesthetist posts have been placed, but these probably will not be filled for six months. These are serious issues of concern. I call on the Minister and the HSE to publish the truth about the issues surrounding anaesthetists in the hospital.

I am also deeply concerned about cancer care. Patients should and are entitled to receive chemotherapy in the hospital. However, I know a patient who had to travel from Drogheda by taxi to a Dublin hospital yesterday and return in the evening only to have to get up again at 6 a.m. this morning to get to the hospital by 8 a.m. for another session of chemotherapy.

The acute hospital system is in crisis, but the Government is doing nothing about it. We do not accept the Minister deserves to be in office. She should be run out of office for the shameful way in which she runs Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the Louth County Hospital. There is no excuse for the situation. Never was there so much money available in the country to look after our sick and elderly, but never did a Government do so little. Never were administrators, nurses, midwives and consultants so up in arms over the lack of funding and resources. They are entitled to these resources because of population increases in the region.

The Minister stands condemned in the court of public opinion. She has run these hospitals into the ground. It appears from what the Taoiseach said today with regard to not being able to keep hospitals open, that all the Minister seems to have on her mind is the closure of acute hospitals in the north east.

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