3 June 1999 Edition
O Caoláin slams Health minister over Monaghan Hospital
Health Minister Brian Cowen has been slammed by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhgh´ín O Caoláin after his visit to Monaghan this week. The Minister failed to deliver on the election promise made in Fianna Fáil literature currently being distributed which claims that a £5 million modernisation package for Monaghan General Hospital has been announced.
The abrasive Health minister made no such announcement in Monaghan on Monday but instead announced a start-up capital allocation of £500,000 for long overdue and essential work at the hospital. ``He has not put to rest the anguish of families throughout County Monaghan who are deeply concerned at the absence of essential services at the hospital'' said the Sinn Féin TD.
There has long been concern in Monaghan about the hospital's inadequate resources and its future. The hospital has no paediatric services on site, a maternity section expected to function in all circumstances without the key players necessary to cope with all emergencies; and a totally inadequate children's ward. There is no full-time anaesthetist. The hospital has only one operating theatre, with no emergency back-up theatre.
The Fianna Fáil canvass card claims that a £5 million modernisation package for the General Hospital has been announced and heralds this as a Fianna Fáil achievement. ``I would not hesitate to say `well done' if this were the case,'' said O Caoláin. ``That said, I know the local Fianna Fáil councillors and candidates wanted the minister to make this announcement. Minister Cowen has failed us all. His £50 million announcement for his own Tullamore Hospital exposes his half-million announcement for Monaghan for the minimalist gesture that it is.''
Deputy O Caoláin described as ``alarming'' the Minister's failure to give priority to the maternity and paediatric needs of the hospital. The Sinn Féin TD said that people in County Monaghan were united in demanding full and comprehensive services at their hospital and that their campaign for justice would continue.
The abrasive Health minister made no such announcement in Monaghan on Monday but instead announced a start-up capital allocation of £500,000 for long overdue and essential work at the hospital. ``He has not put to rest the anguish of families throughout County Monaghan who are deeply concerned at the absence of essential services at the hospital'' said the Sinn Féin TD.
There has long been concern in Monaghan about the hospital's inadequate resources and its future. The hospital has no paediatric services on site, a maternity section expected to function in all circumstances without the key players necessary to cope with all emergencies; and a totally inadequate children's ward. There is no full-time anaesthetist. The hospital has only one operating theatre, with no emergency back-up theatre.
The Fianna Fáil canvass card claims that a £5 million modernisation package for the General Hospital has been announced and heralds this as a Fianna Fáil achievement. ``I would not hesitate to say `well done' if this were the case,'' said O Caoláin. ``That said, I know the local Fianna Fáil councillors and candidates wanted the minister to make this announcement. Minister Cowen has failed us all. His £50 million announcement for his own Tullamore Hospital exposes his half-million announcement for Monaghan for the minimalist gesture that it is.''
Deputy O Caoláin described as ``alarming'' the Minister's failure to give priority to the maternity and paediatric needs of the hospital. The Sinn Féin TD said that people in County Monaghan were united in demanding full and comprehensive services at their hospital and that their campaign for justice would continue.