Fine Gael Longford/ Westmeath Senator, Nicky McFadden has said this week that the failure of the HSE to provide adequate resources for the Midlands Hospital, Mullingar is placing untold pressure on staff who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope.
“The people of Longford/ Westmeath have a right to quality health care. Last week I attended a meeting with senior executives from the HSE where I highlighted the downgrading of dermatology services in the Midlands which is losing staff due to a lack of adequate supports. Last February a dermatologist resigned for exactly that reason.
She believes that consultants must have both medical and administrative back up. “The funding provided by the HSE did not provide for another consultant, a registrar, a senior house officer or adequate nursing staff. How can a dermatology service function without nurses, doctors and medical equipment? It is no secret that times are tight and resources are scarce but frontline services absolutely must be protected at all costs.
“The Midlands Hospital in Mullingar has a proud track record in providing quality care. Last year management and staff complained vigourously to establish the sexual assault unit. The HSE in its wisdom tried to locate this vital service in Tullamore despite the fact that they have no obstetric or gynaecology unit there.
“It is the Government’s responsibility to provide sufficient resources where needed so that existing services can be enhanced and not only to focus on allowing areas of speciality to be relocated to Tullamore or Portlaoise, in the constituency of An Taoiseach Brian Cowen,” she concluded.
