Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all know the health service faces many issues from young healthcare graduates emigrating with very many not intending to come home, and more leaving Ireland because of the costs of housing and rent and the cost of living. As the Minister knows, the biggest issue in my county is the downgrading of the emergency department and ICU in Navan. Last Saturday week, there were 11 ambulances parked outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, because there were no beds or trolleys for people inside. I know that 17 consultants wrote to the HSE, although I am not sure if they wrote to the Minister as well, stating that it was not safe to divert patients from Navan to Drogheda and that if it happened, it could cost lives. The consultants also stated that Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was 16 doctors short, there was no way they could cope with the extra patients and the move would result in the loss of life.

We heard that from tomorrow, ambulances are to be bypassed from Navan to Drogheda. A review was completed two months ago and we, the elected representatives, do not have a clue what is in it. We complained from day one that the option of protecting, enhancing and investing in the emergency department in Navan hospital was not included in the review. We were very disappointed with that. We are hoping it will not happen but the only thing in the review is how best to close the emergency department and ICU in Navan hospital. That is not good enough.

As the Minister knows, we are surrounded by hospitals that are under extreme pressure. Does it not make more sense to protect and enhance the emergency department in Navan, thereby taking the pressure off Connolly Hospital and the hospitals in Drogheda, Cavan and Mullingar? In 2017, the HSE wanted to close the emergency department in Portlaoise general hospital and there was uproar from the politicians in County Laois. All we ask is that we get the same opportunity as people in Portlaoise did to protect, enhance and retain the services in Navan hospital. Perhaps if we had three Ministers in our county fighting our corner as hard as Ministers fought in County Laois, we would be able to attend our services. I ask the to address that.

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