Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her reply, which addresses three of my questions.

On the issue of patient safety, I cannot understand how one can describe as safe for patients the closing down of smaller hospitals and transportation of people to the next available facility, without additional ambulance service resources, in journeys lasting an hour to an hour and a half. This is the fundamental issue that has not been addressed in respect of the hospitals under discussion today.

Why have I received the same standard reply in January, February and March regarding the third consultant physician post and the replacement consultant physician post? Nothing seems to have happened during the first three months of the year. In the context of the current issues regarding capital funding, where now stands the central sterile supplies department? This reverts to the point made by Deputy Reilly regarding starving facilities of resources because unless one's theatres possess basic facilities for sterilising equipment, one will not have a surgery department. Can the Minister guarantee that such investment will be put in place this year? The day surgery spoken of by the Minister cannot take place without such basic investment. On a number of occasions, the Minister has discussed the development of outpatient services at Roscommon County Hospital. Nothing has happened to expand such services even though she has given numerous commitments in this regard. Moreover, the dermatology clinic again is being relocated from Roscommon.

I refer to Roscommon and Portiuncula hospitals. A national review has been completed of critical care facilities. Publication of that review was expected in November last year. Why has such publication not taken place and why is this leading to a lack of investment in respect of the coronary care high-dependency units at the hospitals, which are fundamental to the maintenance and development of both?

Finally, can the Minister explain the reason the special care baby unit at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, has not been opened? If the Minister gets the opportunity, she should look at the appalling condition of the current facility there. Although the hospital has a new state-of-the-art facility, there are no resources to staff and man it.

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