David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to support the call for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to come before the House to discuss the composition of new hospital groupings throughout the country. The Leader will be aware of a serious situation that has emerged in the south east whereby a recommendation may be made by the expert group headed up by Professor Higgins to dismantle the regional hospital structure in the south east and potentially downgrade the regional hospital based in Waterford. If one listens to the professionals who work at the hospital and throughout the region, including consultants, general practitioners and staff at all levels, it is clear they are very concerned about what is happening. If it goes ahead, they would see it as a downgrade of the hospital. The clinical director of Waterford Regional Hospital is on record as saying that if this goes ahead, cancer services, neurological services and cardiology services will be decimated. We know that lives will be lost and jobs will be lost. I listened to the Leader of the House on local radio yesterday. He stated that he would consider his position as Leader of the House if this went ahead. That is an indication of how seriously local politicians in the south east need to take this issue.