Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister for Health was justifying the closure of their accident and emergency facility to the people of Roscommon, he was pushing through proposals for the upgrading of two further accident and emergency units in Wexford and Kilkenny. While I do not begrudge the people of Wexford and Kilkenny, the argument has now been made that the issues in Roscommon were different and that the closure was a matter of safety. The Minister articulated this case in the House in July 2011 when he stated that patients attending University Hospital Galway had a 5.8% mortality rate compared to a 21.3% mortality rate in Roscommon, which was four times greater. These allegations were immediately contested by a consultant at the hospital as well as by Senator John Crown, who had reviewed the actual figures. The mortality rate in Roscommon at the time was 4.92%. According to the Minister's own argument, Roscommon County Hospital was safer than University Hospital Galway, where patients of the former are now being treated. Subsequently, Dr. Jennifer Martin of the Department of Health informed us that those figures were based on a report compiled to examine the quality of data and not the care provided in acute hospitals. Notwithstanding the fact that the Minister's evidence was based on faulty figures and not faulty care, he has failed to correct the record in the House, apologise to the staff at Roscommon County Hospital whose professionalism was undermined or publish the report which has been imminent for the last 18 months. It raises the question: why?

Another key question is what capital projects were delayed by the decision to fast-track the upgrading of Kilkenny's and Wexford's accident and emergency departments. Reports are being circulated that the delay in delivering the new endoscopy suite at Roscommon County Hospital, the Government's replacement for the closure of the accident and emergency department, is due to the need for funding to deliver the new accident and emergency services in Kilkenny and Wexford. In July 2011, the Minister was committed to putting Roscommon's temporary endoscopy suite in place by September of that year and to instituting a permanent facility by early 2012. Some 18 months later, we are at the stage of seeking planning permission for the permanent facility and have been told the temporary endoscopy suite is too expensive.

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