James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to the last contribution, it would be nice if Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin's party came in here and told the truth sometimes.

I will address the issues raised by Deputy Denis Naughten. We have made it very clear that the situation in Roscommon was unsafe, as dictated by HIQA. The Deputy was at that meeting. Since Mr. Bill Maher took over the Galway-Roscommon Hospital Group, the Galway figures have been an exemplar for what can be achieved in terms of the number of trolleys at Galway University Hospital which had the largest problem, where 40 to 50 patients were regularly on trolleys and the average figure was 27. It is now down to seven. There would have been 9,901 people waiting for nine months or longer for inpatient treatment and as day cases by the end of September before Mr. Maher took over in January 2011. That figure was nil by the end of September. He has increased footfall at Roscommon County Hospital which is busier than ever. It provides urology services, while there is plastic and reconstructive surgery and a sleep apnoea clinic that had not been available before. There has also been a radiology service upgrade. The development of the endoscopy suite continues apace and planning permission has been applied for. The existing endoscopy unit has JAG accreditation. There are new dental services and nursing initiatives centred on nurse prescribing, including X-rays, as well as nurse-led clinics. There is also a colo-rectal clinical nurse specialist. We hope it will be successful in being one of the endoscopy centres used for the screening programme.

See this speech in context