Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I wish to raise the condition of St. Coman's ward, a medical ward, in Roscommon County Hospital, an issue I raised in the autumn of 2002 because the contract for the refurbishment of and improvements to the ward had been submitted to the Department in June 2002. A further submission was made on 9 August 2002. It is time for the Department to approve the acceptance of the contract by the Western Health Board.

I am grateful to the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Cowen, for approving major developments at the hospital in 1998. I am equally grateful to the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, for his continued commitment to the hospital which allowed me, as chairman of the Western Health Board, on 16 May 2002, the day before the general election, to sign the contract worth about €5.5 million for a new accident and emergency department which will be a state-of-the-art facility. Work is well under way by the contractor, Tommy Connolly and Sons, and the building will be completed later this year or in early 2004. This is a major development which will be a hospital within a hospital with nine beds and all the required facilities. It is vital that an accident and emergency consultant is appointed when the building is completed.

I also signed a contract on 27 June – I finished work on 30 June – worth €1.1 million for the refurbishment of the theatres. This work is now completed and provides excellent accommodation for surgery to continue at the hospital with two excellent surgeons. We have also provided new screening rooms and other facilities and upgraded the surgical wards. In 1995, 24 rehabilitation beds with links to the hospital were commissioned in the Sacred Heart Hospital. In 1997 educational seminar and conference facilities were provided and in December 1998 new surgical facilities opened at the hospital at a capital cost of €760,000. This provided additional beds. In May 2000 approval was given to upgrade the hospital drainage system, which work has been carried out. All in all, these were welcome developments.

The condition of St. Coman's ward is far below the standard required in a modern hospital. It is extremely difficult for consultant physicians and nursing staff to work in such conditions. More importantly, it is totally unsuitable for patients being treated in the hospital. It is of a standard which I know the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, and the Minister, Deputy Martin, would not accept. I intend to raise the matter as often as I am allowed on the basis that it is of fundamental importance that this facility is upgraded bearing in mind that we have carried out and continue to carry out wonderful work at the hospital which will ensure its continued use as an acute general hospital providing medical, surgical and psychiatric facilities to the highest possible standard.