Dáil debates
Thursday, 21 February 2019
Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate
Hospital Equipment
4:25 pm
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. I contacted the Minister's office to clarify that it is about an MRI scanner as opposed to a CT scanner. I trust the Minister of State received that clarification.
Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I did.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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This is an essential piece of infrastructure for the midland region. Currently, an adult patient in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, has to be referred to the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, while a paediatric patient has to be referred to Dublin. Given the fact that Mullingar is a paediatric hospital for the midlands, this is simply unacceptable as it is causing seriously long delays for our patients.
I will give the Minister of State a brief history of this issue. A number of years ago the HSE promised the community of Mullingar that if it paid for the scanner the HSE would stump up and build and staff the unit with the specialist staff required. I want to acknowledge the Friends of Regional Hospital Mullingar, the group which was established, and I thank the many fundraisers, both small and big. We had a fundraiser in memory of the late Johnny Murphy, which raised €205,000, we had cake sales, 5K road races,; families climbed Croagh Patrick and schools had pyjama days and we had crazy hair days. As a result of this array of fundraising efforts, the target has now been met and the MRI scanner funding is now in place to purchase this scanner.
The Department, which I acknowledged, has approved bringing the building to design and planning stage and the HSE officials have over the last number of months been engaging with the planning authority to try to address any of the obstacles that may be in the way when an official planning application is made. I understand now that many of those obstacles have been addressed, many of the challenges have been ironed out and it is anticipated that a formal planning application will be made by the HSE to Westmeath County Council in a matter of weeks.
The reason I raise this issue today is to seek assurances that once this planning application is approved - it is anticipated that this will happen in a matter of months - there will be no delay in advancing resources to bring this project to the next and final stages, which is the tender and construction stages. This is an essential piece of infrastructure for early diagnosis, for investigation of many conditions, including stroke and cardiology and for people attending for surgery and the casualty units. It is also critical as the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, is the main maternity hospital for the midlands. Anybody with a knowledge of maternity care will know that best practice for babies born prematurely is to ensure they have an MRI scan.
We have come a long way, thanks to the Trojan efforts of the Friends of Regional Hospital Mullingar committee but also thanks to the huge voluntary efforts of so many people who have arranged so many fundraisers. The funding is in place for the MRI scanner. We are ready to lodge a planning application to Westmeath County Council in a matter of weeks and we should have a planning decision within a matter of months. What I want today are assurances that there will be no delay in advancing the necessary resources to bring this to the tender and construction stages.
Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House on the capital development projects at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.
The Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, is a model 3 hospital delivering a 24-7 emergency department, general medicine, including regional stroke thrombolysis, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics-special care baby unit, and critical care, alongside a range of local and regional services on an inpatient, daycase and outpatient basis.
The catchment area for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, includes patients residing in Westmeath, Longford and the greater midlands area. The significant population increase in the midlands region, coupled with other factors such as ageing demographic pressure, has placed significant additional demands on the hospital.
As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of distinct proposals for development at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. I understand a submission for capital works to accommodate the provision of a second CT scanner for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, is currently being prepared by the hospital management in conjunction with the local HSE estates office. The submission will have to be considered by the HSE’s capital steering committee before it can be approved. The application for a second CT scanner for the hospital will also be considered in the context of all other priority medical equipment replacement requests across all acute hospitals and subject to the availability of capital funding.
The provision of a new MRI at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, is included in the proposed new extension of the radiology department at the hospital. The project team is currently at an advanced stage in the pre-planning process with a view to lodging a full planning application in the first quarter of 2019. The HSE intends to complete the design of the project in 2019.
I understand that the Friends of Regional Hospital Mullingar, already referred to by the Deputy, has completed substantial fundraising to support the MRI facility and the Minister would like to acknowledge its contribution.
The timeframe for the completion of these capital projects will be subject to the successful completion of the planning permission process and the availability of capital funding. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, is happy to confirm that the provision of the new MRI facility at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, has been included in the national development plan, NDP, announced last year, as part of the Project Ireland 2040 policy initiative. The NDP provides €10.9 billion for health capital developments across the country, including both national programmes and individual projects across acute, primary and social care. The delivery of the NDP projects and programmes, including developments at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, will result in healthcare facilities that will allow for the implementation of new models of care and for the delivery of services in high quality modern facilities.
The Department of Health and the HSE are currently engaged in a process to finalise the HSE capital plan for 2019. The plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 and beyond, having regard to the total available capital funding and the relevant priorities of each project. All health capital projects currently at various stages of development, such as those at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, are included as part of this process. Once the HSE has finalised its capital plan, it will be submitted to the Minister for Health for his consideration.
4:35 pm
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that the Minister of State is only present to represent the Minister, Deputy Harris, and that she does not have the authority to give definitive commitments. She was given a script that she was to read out. Much of that information was not new, though. I can, and have, read Project Ireland 2040. I know what it entails regarding my constituency and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Given the events of recent weeks and months, though, and by the Government's own admission, certain projects will be "reprofiled". I believe that is the word that the Government has used to describe delays in projects.
I had hoped that the Minister would be present. The Minister of State can bet her bottom dollar that, when the project is finally announced, he will not give her the job of announcing it. Rather, he will take that glory for himself.
The people of Mullingar have honoured their commitment. The HSE made a promise that, if they raised €950,000, which is not small fry by any measure, the HSE would not be found wanting. The people of Mullingar, its hinterland, Westmeath and other counties have contributed. We have honoured the commitment. Now we want assurances that the cost overruns at the children's hospital will have no impact on the delivery of the building for the MRI scanner. I have outlined why it is essential for the region. I want assurances that there will be no reprofiling of the facility to house the MRI scanner for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.
Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy that I am not here for any glory.
John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is none going around today.
Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, is an integral part of the Ireland East hospital group, providing health services and care for the people of Westmeath, Longford and surrounding areas in the midlands. The hospital provides quality patient services through the skills and values of staff to the best of its available resources. This has been achieved first and foremost through the commitment, hard work and professionalism of the hospital's staff.
The Government is committed to developing services and infrastructure in the hospital. Deputy Troy might want me to say more, but I cannot give him a commitment that this project will be funded. We will have to wait for funding under the capital plan to be announced. At that stage, it will be obvious to everyone what plans will be going ahead. Regarding the issue of the national children's hospital, which is much needed, I guarantee the House that projects will not be cancelled. I have heard that from the mouths of the Taoiseach and the Minister. Projects may have to be put back, but they certainly will not be cancelled.
John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Reprofiled.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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That is the word.
Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputies can call it what they like, but I am not in a position this evening to announce that Mullingar hospital will receive the funding in question. I acknowledge the hard work being done by community groups around the country. They fundraise at weekends on a regular basis for various issues relating to hospitals and beyond. I thank the people of Mullingar and the surrounding area for that. Without people putting their shoulders to the wheel, a lot would not get done in this country. I know that from being a community worker.
I will take on board the Deputy's concerns, frustrations and comments about the capital funding. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to announce what funding is available, but I am sure that it will become clear to all of us in time.