Anger is growing in the midlands at the failure by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to sanction funding for the opening of a wing in Mullingar hospital which has been vacant for four years.
A deputation from the Midland Health Board met the Minister on April 11th to voice concern at the delay in equipping and staffing the wing. Mr Martin promised he would make a decision on funding for the unit within three months. This deadline passed last week, and a decision has still not been made.
Ms Peggy Nolan, chairwoman of the Longford Health Services Action Committee, said it was shameful of the Minister to "dither" about his decision while people remained on waiting lists at the Longford-Westmeath General Hospital in Mullingar.
She said there were times when the hospital was overcrowded and patients were placed on trolleys. In these circumstances part of the hospital should not remain idle, she said.
She added that it shouldn't have taken Mr Martin three months to decide on fitting out the new wing, referred to as phase 2B of the hospital. Ms Nolan fears Mr Martin could be holding off on making a decision until shortly before the next election, as there have been suggestions in the region that the issue could result in a hospital candidate standing. If this was the case it was outrageous, she said.
Ms May Sexton, a local PD councillor, said it was scandalous that a hospital building could remain idle for so long when there were waiting lists for treatment.
A spokeswoman for the Midland Health Board, Ms Dympna Bracken, said people seemed to believe that beds could be moved into the new wing overnight to relieve overcrowding, but this wasn't possible as the building was a mere shell, not even painted.
Activity levels at the hospital had increased in recent years, and the health board had made efforts to relieve pressure on beds. However, overcrowding was still a feature, she confirmed.
The health board was awaiting the Minister's decision in relation to phase 2B, she said.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said he expected a decision on the application for funding for the wing to be made within days.
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