Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State's response is not satisfactory. Virtually every month for the past year and a half I have asked what is happening in regard to the reconfiguration of services in this area and about the possible downgrading of accident and emergency services at Loughlinstown hospital. I have been told time and again by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, that the report is imminent but it has not yet materialised. Lo and behold a secret meeting takes place at which everybody but those who have expressed opposition to the plan are told what is proposed. Even now, I do not know what is planned. The response provided by the Minister does not give details in regard to what will happen.

I understand that people at the meeting were told that the 24-hour accident and emergency service at Loughlinstown hospital will be downgraded to a minor injuries surgery which will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is a substantial downgrading. How can the Minister claim, as suggested in the response, that this reconfiguration will, as a result of their being more experience people in particular areas, improve services when budgets are falling and St. Vincent's hospital accident and emergency service is already, judging by the number of people regularly on trolleys for hours and days there, unable to cope? How is St. Vincent's to cope with the overflow from Loughlinstown hospital once downgraded, which overflow is also likely to result in a deterioration of the service available to people living in the areas surrounding St. Vincent's hospital? Reference was made to proximity to the home in terms of the provision of services.

The hospital was situated in Loughlinstown precisely to provide services for people in areas as far as south Wicklow, as well as in Cherrywood, Shankill and so on. The people living in these areas will now have to travel much further to access these services. This decision flies in the face of the commitment to provide services for people closer to home.

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