Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

This Adjournment matter relates to dermatology services for the people of Longford-Westmeath. I fear that the consultant who has left will not be replaced. I attended a meeting in Mullingar organised by the Health Service Executive for Oireachtas Members. We are very proud of the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. According to recent ratings, it is one of the top three hospitals in Ireland. Sadly, there is a consistent threat to services in the Mullingar area.

The consultant dermatologist left last February. There was very little incentive for her to stay. She had a part-time secretary, a part-time nurse, no registrar, no SHO and no infrastructure. There was no phototherapy, which is necessary to treat people with skin problems. Essentially, there was no goodwill within the HSE to support her.

As a junior Member of the Seanad I have experienced a similar situation in regard to a few services in the hospital. Colposcopy services are being downgraded and we will probably lose them. An acute mental health unit has never been developed. We had to fight tooth and nail to get a sexual assault unit, even though we have first-rate obstetrics and gynaecology. We also have an excellent paediatric unit. I fear that all these services are being downgraded in favour of the Taoiseach's constituency and the hospital in Tullamore. That is an outrage.

I raise this serious issue because people are coming from as far away as Roscrea and Kildare to the hospital in Mullingar. How can we encourage highly qualified consultants to come to Mullingar if we do not put the services in place? We need to provide attractive positions. We have a wonderful facility in Mullingar. It is an hour from Dublin and it offers a great quality of life for such consultants, yet we do not put in place the requirements needed by a consultant such as a second consultant to provide support for time off. I have made my point clearly so I will hand over to Senator Glynn.