asked the Minister for Health if there are any proposals for the development of a casualty unit in St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Deputy will be aware from my reply to a recent parliamentary question which she asked, the Midland Health Board have decided that elective orthopaedic facilities should be provided at St. Vincent's District Hospital, Athlone, in the short term. The board also propose to establish an accident and emergency service at this hospital in conjunction with the proposed orthopaedic facilities. I have the matter under consideration at present.

When will the decision to implement the designation of Athlone as the orthopaedic centre be taken?

As soon as it is feasible. We have to look at the whole Midlands area to ensure that the decision we take is in the best interest of the area. When we are satisfied that the best decision has been arrived at we will announce it.

I could not quite hear the first part of the reply. Do I take it that the provision of a casulty service will be reviewed in the light of the announcemnt about the orthopaedic centre?

Yes.

32.

asked the Minister for Health the future proposals for the maternity section of St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone, County Westmeath.

This is a matter for the Midland Health Board in the first instance. Expert medical opinion is that it is safer to have babies delivered in a consultant staffed unit with support facilities such as specialist paediatric, gynaecological, medical, surgical, pathological and radiological services close at hand, and that this is essential for the well being of mothers and babies. I might add that the number of births delivered in Athlone is very low and has declined from 294 in 1972 to 93 in 1982.

Taking these considerations into account, the board decided that the maternity unit at St. Vincent's District Hospital, Athlone, should be discontinued for planned deliveries and a small number of beds retained for emergency cases and for post-natal care.

I did not quite hear the first part of the Minister of State's reply. Is the Minister aware that there is extreme disquiet among all sections of the community in Athlone over the proposed announcement of the scaling down of the maternity section of St. Vincent's Hospital? Would the Minister of State convey to his Minister the general community disquiet and also draw his attention to the great service this section has provided for mothers and the community at large in the town of Athlone and surrounding areas? Further, would he ask the Midland Health Board if they would review their decision in this matter?

My information is that there is very little, if any, local agitation. The medical officer attached to the hospital has expressed opposition all right. But, given the figures and the numbers of births, the appointment of consultancy staff and the retention of a maternity hospital could not be justified.

Could the Minister of State review the case sympathetically in the light of the question put to him here today? Would he ask his advisers and the Midland Health Board, and, in the light of proposals which he will be receiving shortly from community organisations within the town, would he review the situation?

The board has taken a decision and, looking at the figures, I would have to say that it was the correct decision. To give the Deputy hope would be less than honest. I would have to say that the decision taken was a good one.

A final supplementary: is the Minister of State serious in saying that there is no hope for the maternity section of Athlone hospital?

I am saying that the decision has been taken——

Well, it is an unwise one.

I believe it is the correct one and is in the interests of mothers and babies and it is they about whom we should be concerned.

May I transfer my Question No. 379 to a written one, please?

Certainly.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.