Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the detailed reply. However, I am deeply concerned about the last few sentences in his statement. Obviously, the HSE has given him this information. My interpretation of it is that it is the HSE's intention to consider moving people to Creagh in Ballinasloe, which is up to 40 miles from Castlerea. Many of the patients in the centre are unsettled because of this news. Their families live locally and can visit and spend time with them. There are great staff in the unit and the people are very happy there. The consultant geriatrician in Roscommon University Hospital, Dr. Gerard O'Mara, said that he believes the unit is being closed by stealth. There is a big demand for an Alzheimer unit in Roscommon, where approximately 2,000 people of all ages suffer from the disease. I believe that is probably the largest number of patients anywhere in the country. We must take account of what a senior medical practitioner says about this, which is that we cannot afford to let this unit close.

We talk about A Vision for Change. We all accept the policy and we all wanted to adopt it. However, we did not all agree completely with every detail in A Vision for Change. My focus is on people being made unhappy, such as Liam's mother, Anita's relation and others who have approached us about it. Their representatives will be here this evening to speak to the Minister of State. They are concerned because their relatives are very unhappy now. We were given commitments two years ago. I ask the Minister of State to do all in his power to stop the HSE making this change. It will cause much despair and upset for people. I acknowledge that the unit in Ballinasloe is great but it is too far away and it will cause upset for the patients.

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