Health issues led to heated exchanges and the expulsion of a deputy in the Dáil yesterday.
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin claimed the people of Monaghan faced the prospect of their hospital becoming just a day clinic of Cavan hospital.
He said the Health Service Executive (HSE) had published proposals from the College of Surgeons and the National Hospitals Office which, if implemented, would set in stone the scandalous conditions leading to deaths like Patrick Walsh in Monaghan and others.
"As emergency procedures will no longer be carried out at Monaghan hospital, ambulances will have to pass its doors even though it has all the resources needed to carry out emergency surgical procedures.
"As ambulances will be unable to deliver patients in need of stabilisation to Monaghan, they will instead have to bring them to Cavan and elsewhere."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said in November 2004 the College of Surgeons had issued a report on surgical services at Cavan hospital, describing them as "dysfunctional".
The HSE had since been addressing the issues identified in the report, in consultation with the College of Surgeons, to ensure patient safety, higher standards of clinical care, maximum utilisation of all resources and local accessibility.
The HSE had recruited three new permanent consultant surgeons to replace locums at Cavan and Monaghan, bringing to five the number of surgeons employed in the hospital group.
It was intended, he said, that all emergency and major elective surgery should be carried out in Cavan, while Monaghan would become the centre for all day cases and diagnostic surgical work in the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group.
He said a consultant surgeon would be available on site in Monaghan from Monday to Friday. GPs in Monaghan were to be facilitated in gaining immediate access for urgent cases to the outpatient facilities in Monaghan.
"The HSE is satisfied that the implementation of these recommendations will result in a significant increase in the level of surgical activity at Monaghan General Hospital and more efficient use of the personal facilities available on the side.
"Subject to approval by the HSE, it is anticipated that the additional beds and a theatre planned for Cavan hospital will be commissioned by 2007."
Meanwhile, Independent Clare TD James Breen was ordered from the Chamber as he continued to display photocopies of press cuttings relating to the MRSA superbug. "I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to look at these two newspaper headings. Does that make for patient safety?"
When ruled out of order by Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon, he said: "I nearly lost my life as a result of contracting it. What is happening is stated in this newspaper heading . . . I nearly died from contracting MRSA. This article states that 10 people have died from MRSA."
Mr Breen, who eventually left the Chamber, said what was happening was "death, death, death as a result of MRSA".
