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.
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