Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. If the small project I mentioned were to be provided eight more cubicles and minor surgery could be provided in that accommodation. That would cost less than €1 million. That would ease the pressure considerably on the staff in the emergency department and provide better facilities for the patients who are our number one consideration.

Poor accommodation and inadequate facilities place a huge additional burden on staff. It saps morale. I compliment all the staff in all the different disciplines in the emergency department in Cavan General Hospital and throughout the hospital. They work extremely hard and provide a very good service under very difficult conditions. A few years ago the HSE stated in a report that the emergency department was not fit for purpose. In the meantime it has not invested. The need is urgent. I would settle tomorrow morning for the smaller project if it got the go ahead and the additional accommodation could be provided.

It is not acceptable that when people come into hospital and speak to the reception staff, who are under pressure too, the next person in the queue can hear what they are saying. When we present at an emergency department we do not want to know the name or the details of the person ahead of us or why that person is there. The least that can be provided to patients is privacy. It is not possible for the staff to provide that privacy because of the lack of accommodation. The staff in that department and throughout the hospital are working under tremendous pressure, providing a very good service.

I have raised separately the need to appoint additional nurses to the hospital. I hope the Minister will tell the RCSI Hospital Group of the need to have more nurses appointed to Cavan General Hospital. I had the opportunity to meet him privately on this issue. Could the Minister of State bring back to him the clear message that I am trying to impart here this evening, namely, the need for that additional accommodation to provide people with the service they need when they present at the emergency department? The number of patients presenting at the emergency department is increasing annually. They are not just repeat patients. That is a significant factor in the assessment of the demand on the hospital. My colleague and good friend, Deputy Breathnach, who was a very prominent and active member of the old north eastern health board, the HSE forum for the north east and a great advocate for the development of services in Cavan, Louth, Monaghan and Meath shares my concerns about the inadequate provision of emergency departments for the four counties concerned. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would speak to the Minister about my concerns and ensure that the HSE moves to provide additional upgraded accommodation and new facilities at Cavan General Hospital's emergency department.

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