Harney visits hospital to hear of staff cutback fears

On a visit to Mullingar hospital on Monday morning, Minister for Health Mary Harney said that there is no question of Hospital closing down.Minister Harney met with hospital management and the Hospital Action Committee in the Park Hotel, following an invitation from Oireachtas member Senator Camillus Glynn, to discuss services at the hospital and allay fears following on from a protest march held in the town two weeks ago.Stating that Mullingar is one of the best performing hospitals in the country, Minister Harney said the challenge was to live within the obvious budget constraints, which is €6m less than last year, but said she was optimistic than hospital management, clinicians and staff were working together to meet the budgetary requirements for 2010."Obviously we've been expanding a lot of services in Mullingar, the issue is what services can we continue to provide to the highest possible quality, and certainly as far as the services currently being provided are, they're certainly not in danger at the moment," stated Mary Harney. She went on to say that fears surrounding a shortage of junior doctors from July 1 had been dealt with as hospital management had been able to recruit the required number NCHDs (non consultant hospital doctors)."There's no question of downgrading," she added. "In relation to all other services, including A&E, if we have the manpower that's required - that's the doctor cover, then clearly for the foreseeable future these services will continue to be provided here."She claimed the 41 bed closures in the hospital last November were not an issue as the hospital continued to treat as many patients this year as it did last year:"Clearly the ideal for a hospital like this is to ensure that those that require elective surgery come in on the morning of the surgery and go home that evening. That should happen in about 75 percent of the cases. That's what we're trying to move to around the country. If we do that then the number of beds is not really the issue," said the Health Minister."It's the level of activity, the level of patient care, and we're not in a position obviously because of budgetary constraints to give extra money to the hospital for this year."And I have that assurance from the management of the HSE here that they will work to ensure that frontline staff as far as possible will be the priority in that redeployment.In response to a question put to her about Taoiseach Brian Cowen favouring Tullamore hospital over Mullingar, the Minister had this to say: "No, in fairness the Taoiseach has been rock solid in putting patient safety first," she said. "It would be wrong to assume that because Tullamore is in County Offaly and Mullingar is in County Westmeath, that the Taoiseach shows a preference for one over the other. As Taoiseach, his responsibility is to make sure we get the best possible health service for all the patients of the country and that's what we're working to achieve."Meanwhile, Willie Penrose, Labour TD for Longford/ Westmeath has presented to Health Minister Mary Harney, a petition containing almost 5,000 signatures, which were collected by a number of businesses, shops and individuals as a supporting initiative in aid of the recent protest march held in Mullingar.The march was organised to call for support for the maintenance and retention of services at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.Deputy Penrose said: "I want to sincerely thank the businesses in and around Mullingar, and members of the community who on their own initiative, and indeed as a complement to the march, launched petitions which called upon the Government and the HSE to take steps to maintain and enhance the facilities and services at the Midland Regional Hospital, and further assurances that no attempts would be made in the corridors of power to diminish, remove or downgrade this vital facility."Deputy Penrose said that as a follow-up to the march, which attracted in excess of 6,000 people onto the streets, he presented the petition to the Minister, fulfilling a further commitment he made to the people of Longford/Westmeath.Deputy Penrose says Labour is adamant that there should be no attempt "in any way" to downgrade the hospital; that 24 hour A&E cover should be maintained; that the existing important services and facilities be maintained and improved; and that the hospital be provided with its fair and appropriate share of resources, including staff and money, to facilitate the reopening of some of the acute beds closed in November 2009.He said that Labour intends meeting in the coming days with a view to planning the next phase of the campaign."It is important that we do not take our eye off the ball, and we must remain vigilant," he said."We have lost too many things in Mullingar already, and it is no use starting the play on the pitch, when the referee has sounded the final whistle. In this regard, as called for by Dr Liam Dalton, I am writing to Cathal Magee, the incoming CEO of the HSE to invite him, when he takes up his official duties, to the Midland Regional Hospital and see the excellent work being carried out at this excellent facility."