Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

Two weeks ago Professor Drumm of the HSE visited Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. I was led to believe at the time that this would be a positive visit, but instead he said that it was unsustainable that the three accident and emergency departments in the region are allowed to remain open. He said the current cost of overtime for staff at the midlands accident and emergency units was €30,000 per night. Athlone is a town of more than 25,000 people, not counting those living in the environs. We have no hospital - good, bad or indifferent - in the Athlone area. Mullingar hospital caters for the whole of Westmeath, Longford, parts of Offaly and Tipperary and areas as far away as Kildare. Professor Drumm went on to speak of the good work being done in Mullingar hospital. Senators Cassidy and Glynn have mentioned in the House that Mullingar hospital is doing well according to all the indicators. I would like confirmation that Mullingar hospital will not be the one to lose its accident and emergency department. I do not mind being parochial about this. If we do not shout for our constituents here, who else will do so?

Tullamore hospital is a fantastic facility, as the Cathaoirleach will testify, and it does an excellent job. However, we need to keep the facilities open in Mullingar, which is a centre of quality. I have raised in the House the insidious closing down of colposcopy and colonoscopy services and the sexual assault unit in Mullingar. We cannot allow this to happen. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister, when she is in the House next week to speak on the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2009, to reassure the people of Mullingar and Westmeath that the accident and emergency unit will not close. It is strange, in a week in which consultants received dramatic back pay, that Professor Drumm is talking about cutting €30,000 per night in overtime for the wonderful service provided in Mullingar hospital. The Leader knows the unit is full every night. Professor Drumm should consider his position.