Calls to locate regional hospital in Louth sparks angry backlash

A call by a Louth County Councillor for the location of the Regional Hospital for the north east to be reconsidered has sparked an angry reaction in Meath.

The HSE earmarked Navan as the location for the proposed Regional Hospital over a decade ago, but Louth's Cllr Colm Markey has now called for the location to be reconsidered as Navan was now “an overflow hospital for Dublin.”
He also called for the regional hospital to be included in Louth County Council's submission on spatial strategy.
His comments sparked an angry reaction in Meath amid claims that the proposal seems to be “consigned to the waste bin.”
Deputy Shane Cassells said “Quite frankly, there is no point rowing about who is going to eat the dead carcass of the goat, when the carcass is already rotting in the field.
“We had the announcement about the regional hospital for Navan, and there was also the famous pledge it would be built within five years. That pledge is now eight years old, so when it comes to maths, Fine Gael has a poor track record.
“The children's hospital is now €1billion past the original tender price and these issues are related. The Taoiseach said that no hospital would be impacted by this overrun but when I questioned Minister Harris about the regional hospital he was there was no money and no plans to do it.
“Where does that leave the famous pledge now?
“At the very least, we now need to see investment in our existing hospital,” he said.
Deputy Peadar Tóibín said there was no doubt in his mind that government promise on the regional hospital now only existed in the waste paper bin.
“This is one of the most significant broken promise made by a government well used to breaking promises.”
He said any future hospital location would be determined by population, transport and ease of access and the HSE had already determined that Navan was the best way to achieve this.
“It would be illogical beyond belief if that was to be overturned for political reasons,” he said.
In 2005 the HSE revealed plans for a new 750-bed hospital would effectively replace the five existing hospitals in Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan, Cavan and Monaghan.
Management consultants were appointed to recommend the location, with population trends and access as key factors. The decision to locate it in Navan was made in 2008 and Meath County Council identified a site at Nevinstown for the development. 
In the run up to the 2011 general election, the five Fine Gael candidates at the time pledged that the regional hospital would be built in Navan within five years.
They outlined proposals to progress the project through a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement and  indicated they were aware of several different investors, both at home and abroad, who would be willing to invest in the project.
The PPP failed to materialise and the planned regional hospital was struck another blow in 2013 when the decision was made to create national hospital groupings and Navan became part of the Ireland East Hospital Group, which includes the Mater and St Vincent’s Hospital, as well as a number of other smaller hospitals.
Meanwhile, Cllr Wayne Forde, this week expressed delight at a reassurance from the HSE that there will be no downgrading of any acute services at Our Lady's hospital in Navan from 1st July next 2019 to January next year.
“This is fantastic news for patient care and safety and the 24/7 Emergency Department in Navan. This great news will save many lives this year.
“This will ensure our Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Unit and laboratory services are safe.  I also got a commitment that the regional orthopaedic unit is going to be very busy next year,  which is excellent news for Our Lady's Hospital.
“I will keep fighting to get more services returned to Our Lady's Hospital going forward,” he said.