Minister will meet hospital campaign group, TD insists

As pressure to continues to mount on the government over the future of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Deputy Damien English said the restoration of elective surgery at the hospital remains a major priority for the government. However, as the Save Navan Hospital campaign prepares to meet again tomorrow night (Thursday) to plan the next steps in their campaign, Deputy Peadar Toibín has expressed disappointment that the Minister of Health, Dr James Reilly, has not yet met with the campaign committee. However, Deputy English said that the minister will meet with the committee, is very much aware of what is happening in Navan and is prepared to work with the doctors and consultants in Our Lady's to restore elective surgery. Deputy Tóibín said he had made four attempts to organise a meeting with the minister to discuss the future of the hospital. "The first attempt was made in March, the second in April and a third and fourth attempts were made this month," he said. Deputy Tóibin said the minister's staff have so far said that Minister Reilly is too busy to meet with a campaign delegation. "This is disappointing. A short settling-in period should be afforded to the minister, but this cannot go on for too long as our hospital and the wellbeing of its patients are of major concern," the Sinn Fein Navan TD claimed. He pointed out that Minister Reilly had stated as much when he was invited to address a campaign rally in October last year at which 10,000 people from all over County Meath were in attendance. "Indeed, the minister reiterated this concern when he spoke with hospital staff in the days before the recent general election. I am urging the minister to engage with us as soon as possible in order to ensure we retain a fully functioning hospital in County Meath," he said. Deputy English said that Dr Reilly will be more than happy to meet with the committee. "He will meet with the committee and has made a commitment that there will be no more cuts in services. "He wants to look at the situation and put his stamp on things. He is happy to work with staff at the hospital," said Deputy English. "The minister had said that nothing else will happen until he sits down with the committee and the staff of the hospital." Deputy English said that the minister's long-term plan is that each hospital would have its own board and would be run independently, but this could not be achieved overnight. "Hopefully, the meeting will take place in the next few weeks. "He will make sure there is no more bad news for Navan Hospital," he added. Deputy English said he believed the proposals for a new regional hospital in Navan can be progressed and it is important it is kept moving along. "We believe the north-east needs this and we believe we have a way of doing it. I will be pursuing it," he said. A meeting of the Save Navan Hospital campaign will take place tomorrow night (Thursday) in the Newgrange Hotel at 8pm.