Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

A full debate is being held arising from Sinn Féin's motion on small hospitals, including Roscommon. Deputy Adams is aware that Roscommon hospital has had difficulties in respect of recruiting non-consultant hospital doctors and has for quite some time relied heavily on agency staff. The hospital does not have anaesthetic cover on a 24-seven basis and an emergency department consultant is only available on site one day per week. This is not satisfactory and arising from these and other issues the HIQA report expressed serious concerns about the safety of patients. This was not because of the qualities of individual doctors but due to a lack of range of medical personnel. It is for that reason only that these changes are being made; to provide 24 hour cover in respect of the urgent care centre, to provide improved ambulance and transport facilities, backup paramedic personnel, facilities for access to a medical assessment unit, and transfers for patients suffering from heart attacks, deep trauma, stroke and so on. The changes being made are based on a requirement, a necessity and a responsibility to provide the best opportunity for patients in those categories to have the best level of treatment and the best opportunity to survive deep trauma, a heart attack or a stroke.

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