Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's contribution on the neurological service at Sligo University Hospital. I can read a script here and read out the commitment to the national clinical programme for neurology, to meeting the needs of patients, as illustrated by the proposed appointment of a third consultant neurologist to help fulfil the neurology care needs of the population of the north west, but it needs to be backed up, as the Deputy said, by the nurses.

The commitment of the Government to the provision of quality healthcare in Sligo University Hospital is underlined by the project for a multistorey ward block. This is currently in detailed design stage and will consist of two additional 21-bed wards with single en suite rooms. I will give the Deputy a commitment that I will raise that issue with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, this week and I will raise it with the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I am aware of the demand for these nurses. We have to start incrementally. I remember when I was fighting very hard to get dementia advisers in place and we had eight. We built on it year on year and we ended up with the 28 we needed. I will give the Deputy the commitment I will raise this issue as soon as possible and, hopefully, we can get such provision included in the service plan for 2022.

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