Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise an important issue for the constituency of Wexford, that is, the future of accident and emergency services at Wexford General Hospital.

I do not often seek to raise matters on the Adjournment. I do it only when matters are of critical importance to my constituency. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, but I regret that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is not here to answer a simple and straightforward question.

First, let me give some background to Wexford General Hospital. Wexford General Hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. It has a broad range of specialties, including one of the busiest maternity units in the country. It caters for a population in County Wexford of 140,000 permanent residents and perhaps double that number during the summer months. It is an unusual hospital in that its peak activity is in the summer.

It is the only acute accident and emergency 24-hour service geographically between Loughlinstown in south County Dublin near Bray and Waterford General Hospital. That swathe of population between south Dublin and Waterford, the populous counties of Wicklow and Wexford, are serviced by Wexford General Hospital.

I have repeatedly asked about the future of the accident and emergency services in Wexford General Hospital because I have been informed directly by the staff involved that preparations are far advanced for the termination of the 24-hour accident and emergency service by the end of this year. Nurses have been told not to look for night time rostering at the end of this year and emergency ambulance personnel are being added to and upskilled to provide a different type of service.

When I have asked the HSE directly - I am fearful that the Minister of State has been provided with the same script to deliver to this House tonight - it states that there are no plans yet agreed or drawn up on any service or hospital in the south east. I simply do not believe that because the facts on the ground are quite different.

The people of Wexford deserve to know whether plans are being put in train by this expert group that is looking at the realignment of services across the south east, and whether a decision has already been made to end the permanent 24-hour accident and emergency cover operated by Wexford General Hospital. If that is happening, it is the beginning of the end of the full facilities to be provided by this essential and critical hospital.

I want a clear and unambiguous answer from the Minister tonight. The HSE, overblown and all as it is, is still subject to the Department of Health and Children and policy is ultimately determined by the Minister. The simple question to which I want an answer tonight is this. What is the future for 24-hour, 365-day accident and emergency cover in Wexford General Hospital? Please, do not give me obscurantist answers about surveys, analyses, committees or commissions. What is happening and what is the Department of Health and Children's policy?

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