Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. St. Patrick's geriatric hospital is much loved by the people of Waterford. The standard of care and attention given to its patients is second to none. The Friends of St. Patrick's, a group of voluntary workers, has raised funds over the years to provide additional comforts to the patients and to fund structural and other works which should have been provided by the State.

Over the past year, more than €150,000 has been spent on St. Brigid's ward which has 19 patients who are all high maintenance and high dependence. Much of this was provided by the Friends of St. Patrick's. It came as a complete bombshell to staff, patients and their relations and the people of Waterford when it was announced that St. Brigid's ward was to close as part of the HSE service plan for the HSE south region. Health and safety concerns were cited as the reason for the closure. However, no report or evidence has been provided to support this assertion.

Mr. Pat Healy of the HSE south stated a new 50 bed unit hospital will replace St. Brigid's ward within 18 months. However, no site has been finalised and no planning is in place. He stated categorically to Oireachtas Members present, namely, Senator Coffey, myself and Deputy O'Shea, that the future of St. Patrick's Hospital was safe. Only days later on KCLR local radio his boss, Professor Drumm, described the hospital as a workhouse and stated that the sooner it was closed the better and that plans were in place to replace the hospital with a 50 bed unit.

Professor Drumm's comments were an insult to all associated with this wonderful hospital, especially the staff who are rightly and deeply offended by his comments. The comments were strange coming from a man in the company of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who only two years ago praised the condition of the hospital, the staff and the care and attention given to patients. It is no wonder the people are critical of the HSE and the Government when we see such U-turns and, may I suggest, stupidity.

The bottom line in this regard is that no section of this hospital should close until the 50 bed unit is in place. This is the situation as the people in Waterford see it. They will go on the streets to prevent this ward closure. It is an absolute disgrace. The people of Waterford and south Kilkenny in particular, which is where many of the patients are from, are absolutely disgusted with what has been suggested in this regard.