Seanad debates

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Commencement Matters

Hospital Services

2:30 pm

Photo of John KellyJohn Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I support Senator Leyden's matter. Roscommon has the highest number of people over 65per capita in the country. We have an excellent facility. If funding is provided, the project is shovel ready and the HSE knows that. It does not need to acquire land to build these extra units. It is amazing that the project is under threat and that the hospital faces downsizing because of its four-bedded units. There are four-bedded units in every hospital in the country, but will the same apply to them down the road? If the investment is not put in place, there will be no more admissions, which will eventually bring about the closure of the Sacred Heart Hospital.

No complaints were made by patients about the facility. On the contrary, patients were delighted to be in four-bedded units where they could talk to one another. This is good for their mental health.Now their proposals will isolate them, which will not be good for their mental health. As Senator Terry Leyden said, health services in County Roscommon have suffered in the past four years, particularly following the closure of the accident and emergency department in Roscommon County Hospital and because of the underfunding of mental health services, which are in crisis. We also have a problem with the ambulance service and cannot open the new ambulance centre in Loughglynn because we do not have the required staff. It would be an endorsement of the Government if it gave something back to the people of County Roscommon. Sadly, if it does not, it will be viewed as another means of privatising older people's services.

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