Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

Perhaps the Minister thinks the system is working. If that is the case she should be honest about it. She should let people know what they are going to get from the Government; what the Government intends to give them. Usually when there is debate about public health service cutbacks on the national airwaves the first advertisement seems to be about private health care. I wonder how that happens.

The Minister referred earlier to Navan General Hospital. My major concern tonight is the capacity issue. She said that elective surgery in Navan General Hospital was cut because of budgets. I have three questions for the Minister. Will she confirm who is responsible for the closure of services in Navan General Hospital? Is it the Minister, the Government or the Health Service Executive? According to the Health Act which set up the Health Service Executive, it is responsible to the Minister. Its job is to implement her policy. Who is closing the hospital and the services? We were not told the closure was due budgets, but we were told it was due to issues of concern. We all understand that concerns can arise and they should be investigated and dealt with. I would prefer a public independent inquiry on the matter. If there are concerns they should be sorted out.

We are being told that the reason elective and emergency surgery are being moved from the hospital is for those reasons. The Minister said today the reason is budgetary. We are all aware there is an issue with emergency surgery. I will not debate that issue with the Minister as there is proper health data on the matter. However, that is not the case with elective surgery. The HSE has said in meetings and on the airwaves that the reason is due to patient care. The Minister confirmed today that the reason is budgetary. Which is it? If the reason is budgetary, will the Minister deal with the staff who have told us lies on the airwaves in recent months about the real reasons for removing surgical services from Navan General Hospital. The Minister should deal with the issue if she is in charge.

Will the Minister tell the people of the north east exactly what health service she plans for them? Will she tell them what she believes they should have? Will she reverse this crazy policy for Navan? There will be a massive domino effect if she removes elective surgery because the other services will go. Will the Minister give the hospital a chance to thrive? It is a good hospital and - I am not just acting as a local Deputy in this respect - it is a national asset giving a good service. If the Minister or the HSE have their way, it will be gone, which will increase the waiting lists because the capacity is not available in the north east to absorb the number of patients currently going through, as the Minister knows.

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