Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The people of Monaghan deserve adequate health services, the same as anybody else in the State. We are fortunate to have a hospital in Monaghan, given closures in other communities across the State under previous Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments. We are fortunate to have incredible, hard-working staff in our local hospital, staff who provide among the highest standards of care, all too often in challenging circumstances not of their making. Monaghan is one of the areas where successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments have not only failed to deliver adequate services but have callously ripped crucial health services from the heart of our community. The care provided by workers in the minor injury unit is of a standard we expect from our healthcare professionals. However, the standard we expect can only met by them when they have access to the equipment we expect to be available.

Some weeks back, a former town councillor, Tommy Hagan spoke to Northern Sound radio and to me outlining that he had to be referred to Cavan General Hospital because the minor injuries unit in Monaghan could only do X-rays below the knee. At the same time, people presenting at the accident and emergency department in Cavan can wait up to 24 hours. Does the Minister of State believe this situation is acceptable? How has she examined the need for more services in Monaghan Hospital? There is no MRI machine there and the HSE informed me that patients from Cavan and Monaghan have access to MRI services in Cavan. However, the waiting list in Cavan is significant, with more than 500 people waiting for over three months, an additional 500 people waiting for six months to a year and 58 people waiting for over a year. The HSE assures me that all referrals are vetted by a consultant, but I genuinely struggle to believe it. Does the Minister of State think it is credible that any referral is issued with a view to an MRI being carried out at some vague, indeterminate stage somewhere down the line? That does not sound like adequate access to me.

The Minister of State cannot tell me that an MRI machine would not be impactful or give value for money. The HSE tells us it cannot determine this without a feasibility study, but that there is not a plan for a feasibility report because there is no service requirement, as people have access to Cavan. Over 1,000 people whom a consultant has determined to be in need of a scan are waiting three months to a year. Some 58 people are waiting for more than 12 months and we are told there is not a need to examine the possibility of a machine in Monaghan Hospital and the impact it would have. The gall of circular logic is utterly astounding. Does the Minister of State accept that the approach of successive Governments to strip services from Monaghan Hospital has been a failure? I appeal to her to finally commit to restoring services and investing in County Monaghan.

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