Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I will be brief and refer to two statements, the first of which states:

The latest . . . attempt by the Western Health Services Executive to remove in-patients surgery and to downgrade the services at the Roscommon County Hospital is in direct conflict with stated Government policy.

The second states:

Four consultants at Roscommon County Hospital have seen fit to state publically in writing that the Western Health Service Executive proposals are unsafe for patient care and will lead to the loss of life.

The author of both statements is none other than Deputy Finneran, who now is a Minister of State in the current Government arrangement. Why is it that statements such as these that have been made in respect of Monaghan General Hospital have been ignored and yet Roscommon seems to merit a different response? What is the explanation? While I welcome that Roscommon still has the semblance of a hospital at its site, why does the haemorrhage of services continue, to the point at which we are almost at a turn of the key in the door, at Monaghan General Hospital?

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