Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want the Minister to picture this chaos. Last Saturday night, which was a normal Saturday night, 11 ambulances were forced to queue outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. There was not a single bed or trolley available in the emergency department. Some ambulance crews had to keep patients in the ambulance for up to five hours. They could not respond to any other 999 calls. There was not a single ambulance crew available for the entire region. This was no fault of the ambulance crew. It was normal Saturday night when these chaotic and frightening scenes took place.

Next Monday, the Government will bulldoze ahead with the plan to divert ambulances from Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The consultant body in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda has said that it will be unsafe, that patient safety will be compromised and that patients may die. That is from the medical professionals. Will the Minister listen to the medical professionals or will he listen to the HSE, which is prepared to bulldoze with this-----

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