Phil Prendergast (Labour)

Future financial planning for our health service should take into account the need for service provision for older patients, not only for those now in the beds but for those who will need it in the future. Why is the HSE closing a ward in which so much public money has been invested? Where will the frail and elderly dependants in Waterford and surrounding regions go now?

St. Patrick's has addressed the health and safety standards and decreased by seven the number of beds in its upstairs ward. Now the community of Waterford is being asked to lose another 19 beds for elderly patients. We must ask what is the reasoning behind this decision. All the hazards have been eliminated and the health and safety risks have been met. All the staff, not only the nurses, have done their health and safety education and lifting techniques. They have ticked every box with regard to providing the best service they can for these people. This is one more cut and I believe it will be a cut too far.

I ask that the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House and be accountable. I further point out that any relevant parliamentary questions which are addressed to any Department are being reassigned to the HSE for answer. That agency is not answering and is not accountable.

Yesterday I raised the policy decisions on midwifery services where there was an implication that one needs a certain number of deliveries to provide safe delivery of care. That casts aspersions on community midwives, professional midwives, doctors in the community and ambulance personnel who have to deliver babies en route to hospitals. This is wrong and must be addressed.