Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State but I am disappointed. I thought we would be able to say that, yes, this is something good and that we will work to achieve it. I am disappointed because, like many people in the west and the north west, when I hear words like "the matters are under consideration", it tends to scare me. This is because previous considerations of services to Sligo Regional Hospital resulted in reductions in the number of beds, failure to employ a mammographer, the removal of the mammography equipment, with no word about its replacement, reductions in front-line staff, reductions in and withdrawal of day services and non-replacement of critical front-line staff when they are on holidays, maternity leave or are sick. The most recent and frightening aspect is the leaked report that consideration is being given to the very future of maternity services at Sligo Regional Hospital.

I am not pleased to note that these matters are under consideration because if the outcome of these considerations had the same impact on Sligo Regional Hospital as previous HSE and Department of Health considerations of services at the hospital did, we will lose again.

I have made a strong case that this service should be provided and based in Sligo Regional Hospital and I am disappointed that the Minister of State has not said that it can and will be done.

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