Reilly made "no contact" with admins - HSE

The Fine Gael spokeperson for health, Dr. James Reilly TD, expressed disappointment after being told that he would not have the opportunity to meet with administrative staff at the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar during his visit to the facility on Thursday last.However, a spokesperson for the HSE told the Westmeath Examiner this week that while Deputy Reilly 'called to the Hospital at the invitation of members of the medical staff, at no point did he make direct contact with hospital management requesting a meeting'.'I"m very disappointed,' Deputy Reilly said on Thursday evening. 'Apparently, at the last moment the administration couldn"t find the time to meet.'It"s not the first time this has happened to me as Fine Gael spokesperson, and it"s not something I think is wise on the part of the administration. It sends out the wrong message, and sounds like people are trying to avoid you.'After being briefed by members of the medical staff on pressing issues affecting the Mullingar facility, Deputy Reilly said that it was 'outrageous' to note that the proposed cervical cancer unit hadn"t yet materialised, and that the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit hadn"t been installed, despite Government assurances that it would be up and running by the end of January.'Politicians on the Goverment side, and indeed some HSE officials, were flying the kite that this Sexual Assault Unit should move to Tullamore, where there isn"t a single obstetrician. It"s outrageous,' he said.Deputy Reilly remarked that while Mullingar Hospital shares the problems of a lot of other hospitals across the country, the facility is nevertheless performing very well.But he said that the health service is falling victim to a 'destructive' form of political influence.