David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

In 2009, the 19-bed St. Brigid's ward in St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford, was closed by the HSE on foot of a report from HIQA which cited concerns in regard to health and safety. At the time, many public representatives, including myself as a councillor for Waterford city, as well as the Friends of St. Patrick's, a support organisation that was in place, and a campaign group which had been established met senior figures in the HSE and the then Minister for Health and Children. We were given a clear commitment by the then Minister, the HSE and the parties in government locally that when the ward was closed, it would be replaced with a new 50-bed unit on the grounds of St. Patrick's Hospital. The ward was closed and, since then, there has been a desperate attempt by the campaigners to ensure the HSE and the current Government live up to the commitment made by the previous Government and deliver the capital funding necessary to build this new 50-bed unit.

I asked Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin to table a Dáil question in respect of this matter and the response of the Minister is interesting:

The Executive, at the time of the closure of St Brigid's ward, did indicate that it would examine the provision of a new 50 bed Community Nursing Unit (CNU) on the grounds of the hospital. Such a construction project would require capital funding and the HSE must prioritise all capital infrastructure projects nationally within its overall capital funding allocation.

The Minister accepts the commitment was given, but now states it is subject to the capital funding being made available. I call on him to deliver on the commitment given. The campaign group holds a weekly vigil, comprised of family members of people who live in St. Patrick's Hospital, in an effort to get the unit.

The Minister cites the Prospectus report, which deals with the total number of nursing home places, public and private, across the south east. The report, published in 2008, states that no additional nursing home places are needed before 2013. However, the Minister fails to acknowledge that St. Brigid's ward was closed in 2009, after the report was published. He also does not recognise that St. Patrick's is a hospital, not just a nursing home. It is unfair to compare bed provision in a private nursing facility with bed provision in a public hospital such as St. Patrick's. I urge the Minister of State to take this strong argument back to the Minister for Health and to urge him to listen to those people who have been campaigning and to what the HSE had to say and the commitments it gave and to honour those commitments. I urge him to ensure the capital funding is provided for the older people who need these places. There are long waiting lists for beds in St. Patrick's Hospital. My grandfather was a patient there for four years and I know the quality of care patients get in the hospital, a fantastic facility. However, the closure of St. Brigid's ward created a deficit in terms of bed capacity. The only way that can be fixed is if the capital funding is provided by the Government. I urge the Minister of State to relay the message to the Minister for Health that he should deliver on the commitment given and release the funding.