Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The people of Erris are very disturbed by the rumours emanating from the HSE regarding the closure of 20 beds in the hospital in Belmullet. Erris is as big as County Louth. The people of the area depend on their hospital but the embargo on staff recruitment is creating problems. I understand Deputy Flynn stated today on local radio that the embargo would be lifted next week. I would not set too much store by her word, because she told us cancer services would be saved but they left the county as well. Therefore, I would not put much credence in what she has said about the embargo. Perhaps she has been talking to the Minister for Finance, and, if she has, I welcome that.

The hospital in Belmullet has 40 beds. There are 22 full-time nursing staff and 25 support staff. Emigrants from Erris who went to America, England and all over the world have raised funding to support the hospital, the building and equipment and their loved ones who require care. They wanted to be reassured that if their mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters got sick that they would be able to go to that hospital. That is why they supported the hospital over the years. I would be appalled if the HSE management in Mayo were to take away any of those beds because of a shortage of staff. That would be wrong. It would be an outrage. I believe the embargo has already been lifted for staff in Ballina and Castlebar.

Erris has been treated badly by all Governments since the foundation of the State. It would be outrageous if it was to be affected by the removal of 20 beds from the hospital. If 20 beds are removed, the next thing is that the hospital in Belmullet will be closed down. That would be fought every step of the way by me, Gerry Coyle, the local councillor, all elected representatives in the area and the people of Erris. The ongoing gas dispute in Erris might not have full community support but this issue would generate full community support. Any attempt to close beds in the hospital would be fought every step of the way. I say to the Minister, hands off the Belmullet Hospital. Support the people of Erris. Give them their dues and make sure that the embargo is lifted next week so that the staff that are needed can be employed.

The Government has let down Mayo in respect of cancer services. It has let down the women of Mayo in respect of cancer services. This will not happen. It will be fought every step of the way. I call on the Government, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, Deputy Beverley Flynn and all the elected representatives of Mayo to fight this every step of the way. It would be an outrage if Erris, which is the size of County Louth, was to lose its hospital. Patients would have to travel 70 miles to Castlebar, 150 miles to Galway and more than 250 miles if they have to go to a hospital in Dublin. That would be a shame on the Government and the HSE.

I have written to Professor Brendan Drumm. His wife is from Erris. He liked Erris when he was picking a wife. Shame on Brendan Drumm. He would be letting down his wife and her family if he takes the service out of Erris. I call on the real Minister for Health and Children, Brendan Drumm, to ensure that this does not happen. There is no point talking to the Minister, Deputy Harney, because she has washed her hands of the health service. She would only say that it is not her responsibility; it is the responsibility of the HSE. I say to the management of the hospital that it is not to touch Erris or the Belmullet Community Hospital. That will not be allowed. It will be fought every step of the way.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I am replying to this matter on the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

I thank Deputy Ring for raising this issue which provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter. The Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where that is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care where that is appropriate. We continue to develop and improve health services in all regions of the country and to ensure quality and patient safety.

The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as Belmullet Community Hospital. Belmullet Community Hospital is a single complex, consisting of 39 acute, step-down and respite beds together with the 37 bed long-stay residential care unit located at Áras Deirbhle on the same campus. It has an approved staff complement of 78, as measured in whole-time equivalents, which includes 33 nursing posts. The annual budget provided for the hospital in 2009 was just over €4 million. The centre is managed by a director of nursing under the line management of the manager for older people services.

The Deputy will appreciate that all developments have to be addressed in the light of the current economic and budgetary pressures. The executive has been asked to make a rigorous examination of how existing funding might be reconfigured or reallocated to ensure maximum service provision is achieved. In particular, we need to ensure that the highest standard of care will continue to be provided to all patients in a safe and secure environment. Any decisions, therefore, taken by the executive must have regard to the current budgetary position and the current moratorium on the recruitment of nursing and non-nursing staff.

The local health manager has a clear responsibility to deliver services within allocated budgets, consistent with human resource directives with a view to ensuring that the highest standard of care continues to be provided to all patients in a safe and secure environment. This includes any decision on prioritising resources and the impact any decision has on the integrity of the services provided. This requires a stringent ongoing review of the application of the resources available. In this context, senior management, in association with the director of nursing, is considering the options available to it.

In recent days Belmullet Community Hospital has been the subject of speculation that there will be bed closures at the facility. The Minister, Deputy Harney, wishes to confirm to the House that at this time no decision has been made by the HSE to close beds at Belmullet Community Hospital. It has further advised that there will be no closure of beds at Áras Deirbhle. As soon as any decision is made on Belmullet Community Hospital or Áras Deirbhle, the people directly affected will be the first to be informed.

Our primary focus must be on patients. Quality care and patient safety come first and all patients should receive the same high standard of quality-assured care. It is essential to ensure that resources are appropriately channelled and that the changing needs of older people are suitably addressed.