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Yinka Dixon

Senator Dearey proposes an alternative regional hospital for the cross border region

During a Seanad health debate this morning (on the state of the health service), Senator Mark Dearey asked Minister Mary Harney under section 7 of the 2004 Health Act to seek an opinion from the HSE on whether or not the Lourdes Hospital is fit for purpose as the de facto regional hospital for the North East.
Posted on: 06/17/2010
Category: News
Posted by: admin

Senator Dearey furthermore proposed that the transformation programme for the hospitals in the North East be put on hold pending a full review since in his view the Lourdes Hospital is not capable of functioning as the regional hospital. "It is land locked, it is consistently failing in hygiene inspections, it has a litany of disastrous malpractice, and a staff who are already working under the most stressful conditions," the Senator told the minister.

 

To shoe horn in additional patients and procedures is not a proposition that people are willing to accept. The most recent scandal involving Ms. Redmond's scan has further coroded any confidence that people had in the Lourdes Hospital . It is time to think again about how we deliver health services on a Regional basis," claimed Senator Dearey."

 

He concluded his contribution by asking the Minister to work with the Strategic Investment Board of Northern Ireland in planning a hospital that will serve the SIB border region which includes Louth, Monaghan, Newry and Mourne and South Armagh . "With both health services strapped for cash it is the logical time for us to think about sharing the cost and providing a hospital for both jurisdictions. It is a daring proposal, but one that makes sense for the East border Region."

 

Commenting after the debate Senator Dearey highlighted Minister Harney's observation that more and more health services will be delivered outside a hospital environment and that as the primary health strategy continues to develop fewer people will be directed to hospitals. Given that this will be the case the argument for a regional hospital covering a wide area in the East Border Region makes more and more sense. The debate is due to continue next week when the Minister will be responding to Senator Dearey's questions.

 

In a separate development, Senator Dearey during the order of business this morning, demanded that Minister Harney to direct the HSE to use whatever means necessary to sort the recruitment crisis that threatens to end acute services in Louth County hospital.