Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Troy on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, for this opportunity to update the House on this important matter. The Regional Hospital Mullingar is an important level 3 hospital that provides a wide range of health services for people in counties Westmeath and Longford and specialised services for a broader midlands population of 291,000. As Deputy Troy referenced, when I trained as a doctor, I spent time with the RCSI in Mullingar hospital and noted the tremendous public service and work of the staff in the hospital and the broader community in trying to advance this proposal. In support of its development, this Government has invested significantly in the hospital, with a current budget allocation of €101.9 million, an increase of 19% on 2019. I am pleased to note, as part of this ongoing investment, a new-build extension to the radiology department is at an advanced stage. The extension to the radiology department at Mullingar Regional Hospital is included in the capital programme for 2023 and funding has been allocated to progress the project.

This build will accommodate the new MRI and has an expected completion date in quarter 3 2023. The cost of the MRI project is €8.3 million, which is funded by the HSE. As Deputy Troy said, it is important to also acknowledge the role the Friends of Regional Hospital Mullingar played in supporting the development of this important service. Through its hard work and dedication to the hospital, this group successfully funded the cost of the MRI scanner, which is a part of the MRI project, through its fundraising campaign. It is a great initiative and will, no doubt, continue to benefit the patients of Regional Hospital Mullingar for many years to come.

I understand the MRI staffing proposal to support this service at Regional Hospital Mullingar has been submitted to the HSE for consideration. The HSE has approved the recruitment of a clinical specialist radiographer post, which will support the preparation for operationalising and managing the MRI service in Regional Hospital Mullingar. Recruitment for this post is actively being progressed. Regional Hospital Mullingar has approximately 1,100 whole-time equivalent staff, as of March 2023, which represents an increase of 17% since December 2019. Despite the challenges in recruiting healthcare staff, I am advised that Regional Hospital Mullingar has continued to attract highly-talented professionals to the hospital across all disciplines.

Workforce planning in healthcare is a key priority for me and this Government. We have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of healthcare staff employed in our public health service during the life of this Government, with 20,020 staff recruited by the HSE since December 2019, including an increase of 12,917 in acute care. In 2023, we allocated €23.4 billion to our health and social care services - an unprecedented investment. This investment in our hospitals enables the delivery of high-quality, accessible and safe care, ensuring that our hospitals, including Regional Hospital Mullingar, continue to develop and serve the growing and diverse needs of its catchment area.

I take Deputy Troy's point; he and the community want an expeditious decision by the HSE so the capital works are brought to fruition. People want a functioning MRI, which was the focus of his Topical Issue. I will reflect that and the strong wish of the community to see that and that in addition to the specialist radiographer, there is active recruitment for the full staffing complement so the many hundreds who went elsewhere last year can receive a local service and that the investment is brought to fruition in the context of the staffing complement. I will fully reflect the urgency of what Deputy Troy outlined.

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