Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the disgraceful and diabolical decision to close St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir that was made on a whim yesterday morning. On 27 April, I raised this with the Tánaiste. I raised it in the House again on 1 July, 11 August and in September, October and November. At 7.20 p.m. on Sunday last, I got an email from Ms Barbara Murphy indicating that the HSE was considering reopening the hospital subject to the building being okay. That was the first time there was any question mark about the building. What kind of deceitful untruths - I would use a stronger term if I was allowed - were given to us? Councillor Kieran Bourke, a hard-working councillor who has worked on behalf of the town for years, as well as members of his family before him, came to Dublin and met the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, who promised him that the hospital would be reopened. I had commitments from the previous Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and from the current Minister that it would be reopened.

A hard-working local committee has been seeking to make sure that the hospital is reopened. The local community in Carrick-on-Suir, as well as the people of south Kilkenny, east Waterford and south Tipperary have raised funds to provide three hospice beds in the hospital. All of the staff in the hospital were exceptional, including the caterers, nurses and members of the palliative care team. There are only two other hospice beds in south Tipperary. These are located at a wonderful facility in Clogheen, 30 miles from Carrick-on-Suir. Where are people supposed to go? Is it a case of to hell or to Connaught?

It is outrageous that the HSE and the Department of Health could treat people like this. They are having a meeting this evening with local Deputies to tell us about it. We have replies in writing from them but we cannot believe a word they tell us. What a shameful way to behave. They closed the hospital under the auspices of Covid-19 initially, saying that they needed it and we accepted that. I do not think any patient went there for Covid step-down care but a huge number of patients have been denied step-down and recovery time because the hospital is closed to them. I know of patients who could not get access to the hospital and they died at home, supported by the hospice in Tipperary, which is excellent. This is shocking.

The hospital has been in Carrick-on-Suir since 1835 or 1840 and has served generations. Many townspeople were born in the hospital. The HSE and the Department should not treat people like this. There is a new primary care centre in front of the hospital which cost €10 million. Less than 50% of that centre is occupied but the HSE is telling us that it wants St. Brigid's hospital for community care. This is deceit and a blackguarding of the people of Carrick-on-Suir and surrounding districts. It will not be accepted by me, by the people on the hard-working committee to which I refer, namely, Ms Catherine Foley and Mr. Eddie Reade, or by Councillor Kieran Bourke, who met the Minister. What kind of politics or democratic system do we have when a Minister can tell a councillor, in writing and to his face, that a hospital will reopen and then he learns, summarily, that it is to close? Who is in charge of the HSE? It has too much power and has done so much damage. It was not fit to handle the Covid crisis and is not fit to handle anything. We lost Tipperary Community Hospital in 1987. We lost St. Michael's mental health beds under the so-called A Vision for Change but got nothing in return. We are lucky to have saved Clogheen and thanks are due to former councillor Mr. Con Donovan for that.

When we had health boards, we had accountability. Shockingly, there is no accountability in the HSE or the Department of Health regarding the money that has been spent on St. Brigid's. There is a new lift in the hospital. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, told me yesterday that there are no showers upstairs. but there are. The HSE and the Department are using HIQA now. They wheel out the vehicle of HIQA, which is not fit for purpose either, when they want to do damage, destroy a community and destroy a wonderful facility that is badly needed and that was fought for by the people. This will have far-reaching repercussions. We want the hospital kept open. This decision must be reversed immediately.

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