Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator McFadden for tabling this matter on the Adjournment and for sharing her time so generously with Senator Glynn. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who sends her apologies for not being present.

The Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar provides an extensive range of acute services to the population of Dublin and the midlands, especially to people in the Longford-Westmeath area. The Government has shown its commitment to the hospital by way of the capital improvements it has supported in recent years. Recent developments at the hospital have seen the bed complement increase from 215 to 244. The developments include the fitting out of the existing ward shells to provide a new paediatric ward, a new day surgery and gynaecology ward, a new obstetric ward and a new medical ward incorporating an acute stroke unit; refurbishment of the existing paediatric and obstetric wards to provide surgical and medical wards and a palliative care unit; and the extension of the existing facilities to accommodate an interim special care baby unit adjacent to the new paediatric ward. I am pleased that these works have been completed and that the ward areas are now fully operational. Approval was granted for the refurbishment of two further wards in the existing hospital: a medical-surgical ward and a delivery-gynaecology ward. This work is due to be completed shortly.

The first consultant dermatologist for the midlands was appointed to the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar in September 2007. However, the consultant resigned from her post in February and the Health Service Executive has since advertised for a locum replacement.

The HSE also allocated funding to allow for the further expansion of the service for the midlands. In the interim, the executive will seek to recruit a locum dermatologist to continue the service at Mullingar. The HSE is also seeking to put in place short-term alternative arrangements outside the region for the continuing provision of services for patients, where necessary. The HSE will continue to ensure that a high-quality dermatology service is available to the people of the midlands.