Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

This week I witnessed the modern day eviction of 25 elderly residents from Loughloe House in Athlone, County Westmeath, a matter I have raised on the Adjournment to no satisfaction. Today or tomorrow the Health Information and Quality Authority will publish its report, behind which the HSE is hiding and which it is using to close this nursing home. We are witnessing the steady, slow suffocation of the general hospital in Mullingar; the closure of beds in St. Mary's Hospital, even though the sod was supposed to be turned for a unit with 200 beds, and the transfer of post mortem facilities to Tullamore hospital. We will probably also witness the HSE running down or closing our accident and emergency department and its reason will be it cannot recruit non-consultant doctors. The hospital in Mullingar is the best in the country. More than 3,000 babies are delivered there annually, while 92,000 people have X-rays and scans every year. It is the mainstay of the health service in Longford-Westmeath, yet the HSE is gradually demoralising the staff and taking the good out of the hospital. I understand the Leader has scheduled a debate and that the Minister for Health and Children is coming to the House. However, will he ask her to have answers for us before she attends the House next week about health services in Longford-Westmeath?