Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this matter. Two operating theatres in Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway were shut on health and safety grounds last September when significant leaks in the roof were discovered. Repair works were completed on 1 November and yet, more than three months later, the theatres are still not open. An independent clinical assessment has been undertaken to assess the feasibility of returning these theatres to use and I understand that correspondence was issued yesterday to the effect that one of those theatres may be in a position to open today. Can the Minister of State confirm this? More importantly, can he also confirm that it would be adequately resourced, keeping in mind that it is more than six weeks since the Taoiseach stated in the Dáil the Government's commitment to ensuring the restoration of a full elective orthopaedic service to Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway? For such a service to be restored, the promised modular theatres on the Merlin Park site need to be put in place immediately. I have been in contact with the chair of the HSE forum, Councillor Mary Hoade.She has echoed the concerns of all the forum members from all parties, all the staff members from University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park and, more importantly, the concerns of the public in general. Over six weeks ago, the Taoiseach said that the tender process for these modular units was in the final stages and it was expected that a contract would be awarded in the coming weeks. Can the Minister of State confirm whether this contract has been awarded and provide a timeline as to when work is due to begin?

With respect to Galway University Hospital emergency department, Eilish O'Regan reported last week that patients were falling victim to outbreaks of deadly superbugs in dangerously crowded hospitals. We know that the emergency department of University Hospital Galway is dangerously overcrowded. It has consistently been at the top of the trolley watch indicators, which is a shameful accolade. A 2017 report found that conditions at the emergency department were chaotic and nothing short of scandalous. The eyewitness report commissioned by the Saolta group stated that patients are crammed together, within touching distance of each other for the most part and with little or no privacy. Is it any wonder that patients in close quarters are contracting and passing on superbugs, which are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics? The CPE bug is particularly nasty and has multiplied and evolved since my days of working in accident and emergency. It is dreaded because it is almost untreatable. It is immune to some of the last resort group of antibiotics that are used when all other drugs fail. It usually leads either to a pneumonia-type infection in the chest or an E. coli infection in the bladder or digestive system. It kills around half of patients whose bloodstream it enters. Some 17 new cases were detected between 19 February and 12 March in Ireland, including in University Hospital Galway. I ask the Minister of State to update the House on the current stage of works at the new emergency department block. I urge him to acknowledge that there is a real need to put all shoulders to the wheel in this regard.