Navan hospital and patient safety bill
Deputy Byrne raises concerns that the patient safety Bill may be used to justify staffing cuts and the closure of Navan hospital's emergency department. The Tánaiste only replies that the heads of the Bill will be published this term, prompting the Deputy to complain that he got no answer.
In the context of the patient safety (licensing of health care facilities) Bill, is the Tánaiste aware there is a proposal to reduce the number of non-consultant hospital doctors in Our Lady's Hospital in Navan by 50% and there is a suspicion that arguments relating to patient safety will be used effectively to close the accident and emergency department? Is she also aware of a discovery by my colleague, Deputy Cassells, that a manager is to be appointed with a specific remit to engage in the closure of Navan hospital? I would like a response from the Government on that.
