Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national and local importance, namely, the urgent need for a debate in the House on the Government pilot project — the winding down and removal of services from Monaghan General Hospital by the beginning of 2009; the fact that no anaesthetists are being appointed for the January to June period; that Cavan General Hospital had 50 patients on trolleys on Tuesday night last; and that recently the other alternative hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, had to be taken off call. The implementation of the Teamwork report will clearly lead to premature deaths and, for those who live, will result in serious problems for families who have to look after the sick at home without a backup service. The issue can no longer be ignored.

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