Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposing that the Minister come to the House to debate aspects of the hospital groupings as a transition to independent hospital trusts. It is what it does not contain and certainly, I congratulate the Leader and his colleagues. The south east definitely won its political argument, not least for maintenance but to be enhanced to being a university hospital. In that regard, well done to the Leader in this regard. However, the report does nothing to address the blatant disregard for the patients of the north west, in the context of how the clinical programmes, which cater so well for 80% of the population, completely ignore the health of the people in that area. The region lacks both cardiac catheterisation facilities and cancer services despite all that is known - I need not mention again all the broken promises made before the election. When I asked Professor Higgins last night about commitments and about what would be the position in the future for the population of 250,000 people served by Sligo Regional Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital, he simply expressed the hope that this synergy would continue. However, it simply cannot be managed from University Hospital Galway, where the consultants themselves readily admit that hospital is beyond capacity. At present in Sligo, at particular times it takes an hour to get an ambulance. One hears talk of an air ambulance which, in the winter, for example, will fly up to 3 p.m. I hope people can time their heart attacks because otherwise, they are dead.

As for last night's briefing, I completely agree with my Sinn Féin colleague. It was a urination on the Houses of the Oireachtas to brief the media, the unions and everyone before the people's representatives. Thereafter, Members were brought to a hotel across the road, only to wait for an hour as the Minister arrived late. Then I had Professor Higgins, for whom I have the utmost respect, tell me the road between Galway and Sligo will be improved in the fullness of time. Is such a level of disdain and absolute contempt what the people who, on foot of the pre-election promises, are expecting Senator Ivana Bacik's centres of excellence, must accept? This document is a sham. It does nothing for the people of the north west, who had better make sure they do not have heart attacks or expect cancer treatment until the road is done up in the fullness of time, in the words of Professor Higgins.