Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

The sham review into the future of Navan hospital emergency department is now complete. I say it is a sham review for a number of reasons. First, the people carrying out the review were the people who made the original decision. That is never a good way to do a review in Irish democracy. Second, the Minister for Health promised there would be engagement with the local community but there was absolutely none. Third, the Minister of State, Deputy English, promised that a future for Navan emergency department would be included in the review but it simply was not. The review was rushed and there was no consultation whatsoever with the medical staff in Drogheda.

Right now, Navan hospital emergency department has never been as busy. It dealt with 105 patients in one day, 50 of whom would have had to go to Drogheda if the emergency department had closed last June as planned. There were 13 people on trolleys there last week. The hospital has had to reopen wards to fit people in. Is it not the case that the Taoiseach owes the Save Navan Hospital campaign a debt of gratitude for our work in keeping key capacity for the emergency department open during this time of crisis?

Will the Taoiseach guarantee investment in Navan hospital's emergency department into the future?

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