Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I send my best wishes to the Minister for Health and thank the Minister of State for stepping in this evening. My question is about Belmullet hospital, which serves almost 10,000 people. I want the Minister of State to explain to me the logic of refusing direct referrals from GPs in the area. Patients are being asked to travel 100 miles to 150 miles in a round trip to stay a night in the acute facilities at Mayo University Hospital before they can be referred back to Belmullet hospital. It makes no sense whatever and is absolutely crazy. Why is this done and when will the practice be stopped?

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