Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I raise this important matter because I need clarification from the Minister of State on the downgrading of services at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar and, indeed, at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. There is a rumour that accident and emergency services at Mullingar hospital will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and not at weekends. While it is a rumour, there is no smoke without fire. Currently, I believe patients for CAT scanning services are being transferred from Portlaoise hospital to Naas General Hospital. Patients from Longford and the greater Westmeath area will have to travel to the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore in County Offaly, a hospital with which the Cathaoirleach is very familiar and which provides a great service. However, it is already catering for a large area of County Offaly.

In the cutbacks announced in the budget in April, 70 nursing posts have been lost to Mullingar hospital. The Minister repeatedly said the old, vulnerable and the sick would not be affected by these cutbacks. On the Order of Business, I referred to a newspaper article on the amount of money spent paying for consultancy services which Professor Drumm, in his wisdom, has brought in. It is extraordinary that it is sick people who are being affected by these serious cutbacks and not the professionals or administrators who Professor Drumm, in his wisdom, has chosen to employ.

I acknowledge the need for centres of excellence. However, the Minister of State, coming from Dublin, might not appreciate the need we, at a regional level, have for acute hospitals. We have accepted the fact cancer services must be provided at a centre of excellence and that there must be the numbers to deliver a good service. However, I cannot stand over the downgrading of acute and accident and emergency services in Mullingar hospital. We must provide a safe and good health service for the people of the midlands. The National Health Service in the UK regrets having closed down so many of the cottage hospitals.

Since being elected, I have spoken in the Seanad on cancer services and on the failure to open a sexual assault unit in Mullingar. The HSE tried to locate the sexual assault unit in Tullamore even though there are no gynaecological or obstetric services there. I raised the issue of colposcopy services being moved to Tullamore even though there are no gynaecologic or obstetric services there. The dermatologist has not been replaced in Mullingar hospital. Staff, hospital consultants and politicians must always be on guard to ensure services are not withdrawn. This is not something with which the nurses and doctors who are trying to run an excellent service in Mullingar hospital should have to deal in their daily work.

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to listen to me and ask him to convey my words to the Minister because I am sure the reply will not cover the issues I have raised.