Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, fitting mention was given, and has been given again today, to the improvement of health facilities. In South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel, the situation is chronic. We now find that two operations, St. Patrick's in Cashel, a step-down facility, and the Sacred Heart unit in Dungarvan Community Hospital, which takes patients for step-down care, are losing beds - 20 in Dungarvan and up to 15 in Cashel in Tipperary. There is also the chronic daily situation of the 45 beds in Clonmel. University Hospital Waterford is backed up as well. What is going on in the HSE? While trying to deal with that crisis, it was announced that the hospitals would get extra extensions, but that is ongoing for the last three or four years. We are now closing step-down facilities where people can go to recuperate after having hip operations, knee operations or any other medical procedures. The step-down locations of St. Patrick's and the one in Dungarvan provide wonderful facilities. It is folly and absolute madness to close these places because it will put ten times the pressure on the acute hospitals. What is going on? Will the Taoiseach have someone look into it? As Deputy Healy Rae said, will one of the five Ministers in the Department of Health have a bit of common sense and do something?

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