Treacy satisfied with Health Minister’s assurance on future of Portiuncula Hospital

Galway East Fianna Fáil Dáil Deputy Noel Treacy has said that he is ‘absolutely satisfied’ with the assurance given to him by the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney TD regarding the future position of Portiuncula Hospital.

“Following rising public concern in recent weeks, I want to assure the people of East Galway that I am absolutely satisfied that Portiuncula Hospital will remain an integral part of our public health service.”

“The Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney TD has given her assurances that there are no plans to lessen the provision of services provided at the Hospital,” Deputy Treacy said.

“Speculation has arisen in recent weeks following the announcement that a new Regional Manager is to be appointed to take responsibility for Galway University Hospital, Merlin Park Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital. However, this is being done to improve management processes and is for the benefit of the hospital, and consequently for the patients of the hospital.”

“The move was recommended in a report which was compiled by the Health Information and Quality Authority’s Report on Quality and Safety of Services at a different hospital.”

“It is good practice to encourage good promotion between hospitals and there is nothing to fear from this move. It is a positive development and the HSE has met the unions involved to discuss the context of the appointment of the Regional General Manager and will continue to keep them informed of developments.”

“Our Government has invested heavily in the Hospital in recent years with capital developments such as the Special Care Baby Unit, the recent upgrading of the Emergency Department and the overhauling of the Oncology Day Unit and the Physiotherapy Department in 2007 and prior to that a major extension and subsequently the acquisition of the hospital from the Franciscan Order.”

“Portiuncula Hospital is an integral part of the public health service and will continue to be so. It will provide services for more than 10,000 in patients, 7,000 day cases, 29,000 emergency presentations and 42,000 out patients this year alone, this having a positive impact on up to 90,000 people in our region in 2010.”

“I warmly congratulate the management and staff in Portiuncula on their excellent work and assure them of both mine and the Government’s continuing support in the years ahead,” concluded Noel Treacy TD.