Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak on this very important debate on the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. Before I go into the details of the debate, it is important to recognise that it is families that are involved here. It is babies, mothers, fathers and extended families. I extend my deepest sympathy to all the parents and families of babies who died at that hospital and note the terrible way they were treated by the HSE after their loss. My heart goes out to them, but they need more than sympathy. They need our practical support. Concealing information should never be an option. We must always improve our game to ensure we comply with best international medical practice.

I deplore the decisions of Ministers and the Department of Health not to allow the Midland Regional Hospital to be funded as a model 3 hospital. HIQA found that services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, were not governed, resourced or equipped to provide the level of care expected of a model 3 hospital. That is the bottom line. The Minister must wake up, fund the services and stop hanging around. Like Beaumont Hospital in my own constituency, this hospital needs our support. At Beaumont Hospital, they need 80 to 100 beds to be opened to end the crisis in accident and emergency. Last week, I met the management and staff of Beaumont Hospital who are doing an excellent job against the odds. They showed us their frontline services and the accident and emergency unit where people were on trolleys and chairs. Not one of our two local Ministers bothered to attend that day, which was a total disgrace.

Tonight, we need to do three practical things on the motion. Patient safety must be put first and the Midland Regional Hospital must be properly resourced. Further improvements must be made in the governance structure of the Midland Regional Hospital. The recommendations of the HIQA report must be implemented immediately to ensure the risks and deficiencies identified are addressed at local and national level to ensure the delivery of safe and consistent patient care.

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