Rosalie unit transfers
Eugene Murphy protested that patients were being moved from the Rosalie unit in Castlerea despite previous assurances. The Minister of State said he would not overrule clinicians and had been told there was no change, while Murphy repeatedly insisted moves were under way and accused him of not telling the truth.
I refer to the programme for Government which has many references to a better health system for the aged, those in need of mental health services and those with disabilities. It is incredible that I have to again raise the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon. I want the Taoiseach to respond this time if he can because the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, cannot provide any more information. Elected members and the families of the patients were given assurances that there would be no interference or movement of patients from the unit. Incredibly, as we speak, every attempt is being made to move a lady from the unit. She has mild mental health issues and she was getting all the care she needed there but she is being moved to a private nursing home where she will not have the same level of care. I appeal to the Taoiseach to call off the proposed move. Could he stick to his promise that the review will go ahead in January and at least leave matters as they stand until that is done? It is not fair to those people or their families. I will not accept the same old answer again. I would like the Taoiseach to respond on the basis that when he was Minister for Health, a letter issued from his Department, as I pointed out previously, saying that the unit would not be closed.
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With respect, the Deputy is not a clinician and neither am I. I do not dictate the most appropriate care for the elderly and neither does he. That is a matter of fact. That is done by clinicians. I will not comment on the decision taken by a clinician on where somebody gets the better care.
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It is not within my gift. I did not go to medical school.
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The Deputy raised the issue previously and I inquired of the HSE as to whether there were any efforts to move anybody from the facility and I was assured there was no change in the circumstances since we last spoke.
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If the Deputy wants to call me a liar, that is a very different set of circumstances.
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I am not calling the Minister of State a liar.
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I know what is happening on the ground.
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The Deputy's annoyance is understandable. I have no problem with that, but the facts still remain on the record of the House.