Mattie McGrath slams closure of St Bridges Hospital
Mattie McGrath addressed the Dáil about the closure of St Bridges Hospital in Carrickenshire and criticised the Government's handling of the decision. He urged a re-examination of the hospital, demanded meetings with councillors and activists, and questioned the findings of the Hickaway report.
Allegation of unceremonious closure
He accused the Government and the ministers of unceremoniously deciding the hospital was closed and said there had been a pint-blank refusal to meet Councillor Cairne Broeck, Tipperary County Council councillors and local activists seeking answers.
Concerns over defects and Hickaway report
He said the Hickaway reports had previously indicated the facility was fit for COVID step-down during the first lockdown and asked what was defective in the hospital. He called for the hospital to be re-examined and for any structural defects to be identified and repaired so it could be used again, including for COVID care if appropriate.
Local testimony and staff praise
He referenced testimony from families over Christmas about care and dignity for patients and highlighted calls from activists and Catherine Foley, who had tried to bring attention by pushing a bed to Dublin but was stopped by the five kilometres rule. He also praised the nursing and medical staff, including Medicus, as impeccable.
HSE role and official response
A responding speaker noted that the Health Service Executive takes operational decisions and said there had been an HSE plan to invest in St Bridget's with different services. The responder acknowledged differing local perspectives, stressed the need to consider Hickaway reports, and said they would engage with the HSE on the matter.
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I want to return to the issue of St Bridges Hospital in Carrickenshire, which you unceremoniously just decided was closed, you and your minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister Butler, and your pint-blank refusal to meet with Councillor Cairne Broeck and the councillors from Tipperary County Council, and the activists, and Catherine Foley was pushing a bed to Dublin today, but due to the five kilometres rule she had to desist, they want answers to know what is defective in the hospital. Hickaway reports all the time had said it was fit for COVID step down in the first lockdown. Now are you going to use it for COVID, and will this hospital, and can this hospital be re-examined to the repair boxes needed after the structural defects repaired, or whatever you're saying is wrong with it, Hickaway report wasn't quite clear, very little I could see wrong with it. As fabulous institution, and we've listened to testimonies from families all over Christmas, how their loved ones were killed for their, and died there with dignity, and will you meet with, as I said, Councillor Bork and his colleagues, and meet with the activists in Carrickenshire, and indeed the impeccable nursing and doctor staff that were there, Medicus. Thank you Deputy. It's a shocking indictment on your Government to close this, especially in a time of COVID. The Government doesn't decide to close any institution in that manner. The Health Service Executive, yes, takes operational decisions. My understanding was that the HSE had a plan to invest significantly in St Bridget's, with additional and different services being applied there. And initially that met with some positive responses, but people have reflected on that, and people have different perspectives on it. I don't have any difficulty engaging with people in relation to it, but when Hickaway reports are, we can't ignore Hickaway reports either in respect of particular institutions or facilities, and I will engage again with the HSE in relation to the matter. please Do they show you there lots lots there .
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