Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this matter for the Adjournment debate. I want the record of the House to show that the Minister for Health and Children, who was present for Question Time, has left the House. I thought she might at least show me the courtesy of staying to hear what I have to say.

In August 2006 the Health Service Executive, HSE, announced its plans to transfer inpatient surgery from Roscommon County Hospital to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe as an interim measure before its transfer to University College Hospital, Galway. In September that year the now Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Michael Finneran, had the plan postponed until after the general election. On the eve of the general election the then Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, told RTE on the steps of Roscommon County Hospital that the hospital would not be downgraded. The plan was shelved until February this year when it was resubmitted to the hospital network manager of the HSE and on 28 April the green light was given by Ms Ann Doherty of the National Hospitals Office. The decision was made to implement the transfer of inpatient surgery from Roscommon County Hospital to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

In April the HSE advertised for a consultant surgeon to fill Mr. Flynn's position in Portiuncula Hospital and three more posts for consultant surgeons will be advertised shortly. The appointments will be made between now and the end of the year and, if they are lucky, they hope to make all the appointments for the posts already advertised. Appointments will be made of five general surgeons with no particular speciality. The only appointment that needs to be made prior to the transfer of sources from Roscommon to Portiuncula is to fill Mr. Flynn's position. Once that is done the HSE insists it can implement the transfer of surgery from Roscommon County Hospital to Portiuncula Hospital within 12 months. The HSE was to give an outline of its plan to Roscommon County Council on 26 May but that meeting finished after less than an hour because the Government was to meet the National Hospitals Office on 28 May.

I do not understand why the second option, put forward by local consultants, has been rejected and why the HSE and the Government have not been prepared to outline their plans regarding the hospital. The Government has not issued a statement on the future of the hospital because if the news were positive local representatives of the Government would trip over each other to claim credit. It is important that the Government issues a statement as we do not want another agreement made behind closed doors. The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, knows well what happened the last time. We want a clear statement on the floor of this House regarding the plans for inpatient surgery at Roscommon County Hospital. It is important that the Government and the HSE stop hiding behind closed doors. If the HSE and the Government are so confident that the downgrading plans are in the best interests of Roscommon County Hospital and the people who rely on it, why are they not prepared to talk to the media or engage in public debate either here in the House or at a meeting of Roscommon County Council? The HSE claims it is not a cost-cutting exercise but the reality is different. Not one additional bed will be provided in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, which will see a doubling of inpatient surgery. In fact, there will be a reduction in capacity of two beds at Portiuncula Hospital. No additional day surgery will be carried out at Roscommon County Hospital and there will be no additional investment in the ambulance service in County Roscommon. The next stage is the removal of the accident and emergency department, initially to Portiuncula Hospital and subsequently to University College Hospital, Galway, in line with the Government's policy as stated in the Hanly report. This is already happening in Louth County Hospital; inpatient surgery was moved to Drogheda and now the accident and emergency department is to be transferred by the end of the year. That is being used as the blueprint for the downgrading of services at Roscommon County Hospital, as categorically stated by the hospital network manager for the western region.

It is vital that we are given a clear and unambiguous statement on the future of inpatient surgery at Roscommon County Hospital, the retention of acute medical services and the accident and emergency department. I ask the Minister of State to tell us whether the green light has now been given to the HSE to proceed with the transfer of inpatient surgery services from Roscommon to Portiuncula and when that decision was made. Has the Government taken any action on this to date? Why have no additional resources been put in place for emergency acute medical services in Roscommon?

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