Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Deputy James Reilly, for raising this issue. In no small way, he, with others, had a role to play in making sure that at least some of the worst cutbacks planned for Crumlin hospital have been eased.

The Minister has a major role to play in this regard. On behalf of the Government, she can decide whether the ward is re-opened and the funds are made available. I appreciate more than most that we are in difficult times, but we were in difficult times before. While I do not remember it, I was often told of the time my oldest brother was born prematurely and rushed to Monaghan General Hospital where his life was saved. My late mother would always write to any family that had a bereavement because she realised how precious it was to save a child.

Monaghan General Hospital is another issue which I will not go into here. However, the Minister will have to bear the responsibility in that regard also.

I think of the Clerkin family in my parish who, although they lost their child as a result of serious illness, thought so much of the work that was done for the family in Crumlin hospital that they organised a major fundraiser. I think also of the Quigley-McPhillips family who, thankfully, still have their child. They raised €106,000 in one night jointly for the hospital and the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, which does a great job in its own right. These are two examples of where the people of a small community in the parish of Aghabog and Killeevan came together and committed themselves to provide funds to help this hospital because they saw the great job that was being done and the great need for it.

I can personally recall the case of a 13-year old girl who had a serious illness, although it was a major task to find out what the illness was. Crumlin hospital did not give up, however, and was eventually able to transfer that child to London where she had her transplant. Subsequently, she has moved on in life and she now has her own children, although she had been at death's door. I understand also that a young couple were glad their baby girl had her operation yesterday at the hospital.

These are some of the real issues for families, yet the Minister has tried to claim, as she did on television recently, that these cutbacks will not affect anybody. I am not totally dependent on Deputy James Reilly or the Minister's colleagues who visited the hospital with him today. Like every other Member of the House, I have received an e-mail from a family that has recent experience of being in that hospital. They made the point that many of the beds in the cardiac wards in St. Brigid's ward are being used for orthopaedic patients since St. Joseph's ward closed last month. This means there is reduced cardiac surgery and children's vital heart operations are being postponed. It is only a matter of time before a family pays the ultimate price for these cutbacks. I do not state as much flippantly, this is what the parents of a child patient told me. They further stated that during their visit there were signs over the ECG, electrocardiogram, room stating, "No staff, limited services". They were informed only three staff were working in an area in which there should be three times that number to cover all the clinics. While they were being admitted to the day ward a young girl with a newborn baby was informed the cardiac procedure for which she presented had been cancelled at the last minute. She had to go home with her tiny baby and wait until the hospital could fit her in another time. How can the Government maintain these cuts will not affect children? How can it continue to hit the most vulnerable sector in society? These are not the words of a politician. This is the case of a real family which saw what is taking place at first hand in the hospital in Crumlin.

Professor Drumm has stated on the record that there are management or senior staff in the HSE and he does not really know what they do. I suggest, with all due respect, that there are other areas within the HSE and Government which should be examined before the treatment of children is compromised. I make no apology for using that word. Children are the dearest thing on the earth to the parents who brought them into the world. They only seek fair play and a service.

We could spend all night discussing the idea of moving this hospital to the Mater Hospital, which would beg the political question for the move. Anyone who has visited the Mater Hospital as often as I have is aware that in the present circumstances there is no parking or anything else available much of the time. However, savings must be made within the Department of Health and Children. In recent years I have sought taxi services for genuine hardship cases but I have been told none was available. However, as a result of a Dáil question, I have discovered that in the past two years some €60 million has been paid out in taxi costs. This is only one relevant example. Before it is too late, the Minister should either find the necessary money or savings from elsewhere or make a decision on what she should do personally.

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