Results 1,561-1,580 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: These problems were caused by incompetent Ministers and incompetent Government policy.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Nobody is taking responsibility. That is the issue.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Not judging by the European and local elections.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The Senator is rusty—--.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The needle is getting stuck.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children and wish her well in her new job. However, I would prefer to see her in Mullingar this evening opening phase 2B of Longford-Westmeath General Hospital, a project that has been in the pipeline for 11 years. The shell is built and nothing more constructive has since occurred I strongly support the motion in the light of the Minister's...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The Senator can talk. He binned Hanly long ago. Centralisation is the main recommendation of the Hanly report. There is no evidence that centralisation of acute care in general results in better outcomes for patients, rather it has disadvantages for the elderly and the disadvantaged.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Canada and the United Kingdom have centralised services over the past decade, with no benefits whatsoever for patients. Canada ended up with a health care crisis. This was very evident, it was in the media and the Minister knows all about it. The result was partly due to the centralisation of services and the reduction of a 30,000 bed capacity. Centralisation removes local access and is...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Among these are Longford-Westmeath General Hospital, a hospital in Mullingar. A promised 12-bed observation ward has never been fully opened——

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: ——because of staff shortages.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Senator Glynn, at great expense to the Midland Health Board, brought Members down, to show them what was available. However, they never had the guts to bring down the Minister to open that facility.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The future of Mullingar hospital was supposedly assured under phase 2B of the midlands regional health plan. Confirmation that the development would go ahead was issued despite recommendations in the Hanly report. This is done left, right and centre. There is a hospital action group in Mullingar like those which exist throughout the country but not one member of Fianna Fáil or the...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: There has been evasion all along on the issue.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: That Mullingar hospital faces the stark threat of downgrading is not good enough for the people of the midlands, especially those in Longford and Westmeath.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The people want the hospital to be upgraded and the facilities outlined in phase 2B to be implemented.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: We will settle for nothing less.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The real issue is people's lives. The downgrading of Mullingar hospital would result in the removal of maternity, accident and emergency and other services which would be dangerous and morally wrong. The Minister and Senator Glynn should note that we will fight this tooth and nail. I will refer to County Longford.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The casualty unit at St. Joseph's Hospital in County Longford does not provide 24-hour cover despite several demands.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: A modern casualty unit requires a full complement of services. We want to see proper facilities put in place and operated on a 24-hour basis.

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (17 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The Government has had many representations from my colleagues on Longford County Council and from me on the opening of a 24-hour casualty service in the county.