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GALWAY TD CATHERINE CONNOLLY has decried the level of care being provided in Galway University Hospital and told the Dáil that a new A&E and maternity ward are needed.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions today, Connolly said the Government has promised both but that there is no clarity over when it is going to happen.
“All of the time I am getting different answers.
“It would be easier to read The Castle or Metamorphosis by Kafka – which is extremely difficult to read – It would be easier to read it in German, Irish or English than to understand the answers that are coming in relation to the hospital in Galway,” the Independent TD said.
Connolly pointed to an appraisal carried out in 2019 which found that 64% of the infrastructure was not suitable.
She said today, 62 patients are on trolleys in the hospital and noted that earlier this year when the number hit 73 it was the worst recorded figure since the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) started collecting data.
In 2015, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that the hospital was “not fit for purpose”.
“No progress has been made at all on the hospital in Galway other than the temporary Accident and Emergency which cost €15 or €16 million,” Connolly said today.
In response, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath who was taking Leaders’ Questions, said progress is being made and a “masterplan” is being finalised.
He said this includes a new emergency department, a new laboratory, a new cancer centre and a new women and children’s block.
Plans will also be overseen for the Merlin Park campus.
“Progress is being made, a design team has been appointed, a programme manager has also been appointed,” McGrath said.
He added that the hospital will benefit from 198 beds by 2028.
In response, Connolly said:
Minister, one always loses the will to live really in relation to this.”
She continued: “2014: Not fit for purpose. 10 years later: Not fit for purpose. And you are telling me then that there is money going into this?”
“How in God’s name can we stand over a situation 10 years later, where we don’t even have a deadline for an accident and emergency?,” Connolly asked.
I don’t want to stand here and lambaste the Government. I want a public health service that’s fit for us to call ourselves a Republic.”
In response, McGrath admitted that the hospital is not fit for purpose but added that trolley numbers have improved over time.
“They’re down nationally.
“You’ve highlighted what is happening today in the hospital. And what I’m saying to you, as minister on behalf of the Government, is that that is not acceptable to us and we will address it,” McGrath said.
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Bad week for gorillas
Poor thing :-(
Condolences to Gerry and all the crew in Dublin Zoo. Although some readers may not agree that the Zoo is not the place for an animal; Harry was a much loved and cared for animal and will be missed by all that knew and visited him. RIP Harry
I can understand where people are coming from with their dislike of zoos, however, think of all the species in the world who may already be extinct and nothing known of them if it weren’t for zoos allowing us to see them in real life and watch them interact with each other and have babies and care for their young etc. RIP Harry.
Which species have zoos saved from extinction?
jesus i took pics of him just there on sunday poor thing he seemed in great form on the day
No you didn’t, he wasn’t out all weekend, we were there Sunday for thee meet the keeper with the Gorillas. They explained he was not there, and they were keeping him inside as a precaution. Even the keeper was missing, it was one of the elephants keepers doing the talk
Caught rapid, techguy.
i was there sunday but there was no keeper talking at the time didnt know they had 2 large ones there was only one there when we were there and 3 smaller guys assumed the big one was harry
Tachguy, I thought it was him too until I seen him, beside the females. Just a friendly info before you share the photo as him. Nice day for it Sunday
yea cheers – gorgeous day sunday massive queues too
You should have got his signature.
Rip buddy
This photo is doing the rounds. Very fitting. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=511889242352289&substory_index=0&id=152480891626461
:’(
Gentle Giant :-0
What kind of life had he really? Life in an enclosure constantly being shouted at by tourists banging on the glass looking for him to do something funny for a Facebook post. We are only interested in animals when they can make some money from them.
Not much glass at their current enclosure, they are on an island
In fairness the space they were moved to in recent years was far superior and definitely allowed them more freedom. Zoos are educational and help preserve species which may otherwise have gone extinct, they also allow people to see all of these animals in person and watch how they interact with each other. Obviously the most important thing about zoos is ensuring all of the animals are kept in suitable areas with plenty of room and cared for properly.
Exactly Miriam, if habitats weren’t being destroyed we wouldn’t need zoos, he was a beautiful animal.
Obviously wild life should live in the wild, but mankind have made that impossible.
Poor thing, died of loneliness and boredom
Maybe you should of joined him so…
Loneliness? He lived there with several other gorillas in the troops?
Stephen, while I agree with you the facts are western lowland gorillas can live to 60 in captivity and around 35 in the wild. But it is about quality of life so I’d take living on the wild.
Stephen; how did you manage to get the results of the autopsy before it’s even been done?
Completely agree, I’d never seen an animal so depressed in my life, these animals do not belong in the zoo.
no animal does, horrible place for them to live
Adios Harry.
Free at last.
I didn’t even know he was sick…
Rip ya legend
The Dublin gorilla obviously died of a broken heart after hearing about the American gorilla.
.
(They should round up some Dublin Gangland Thugs and put them in his cage…..
Same Species.)
That is harsh on gorillas.
Troupe.
Oh no, I have tons of photos of him when I took my kids to the zoo, years ago. he loved and hogged all the fruit and bananas, great catcher too.
My condolences to his five emmm is children the word? Or cubs?
RIP
I’m sorry, but it’s his own fault. I’m not going to give in to this sort of emotionalism.
Wrong gorilla
All gorillas are wrong. If they wanted to be right, they wouldn’t be gorillas.
I only saw him three months ago and he looked fine
I told him to stop smoking but wouldn’t listen to me.
People are outraged and rightly so about Gorilla deaths.
Whether from blatant callousness of Zoo keepers in shooting them or from Zoo visitors desire to stop by and stare at them from time to time , this treating animals as curiosities in menageries is deemed more important than their lives.
Harambe being shot,-the incident, which was captured on a cell phone camera, has sparked an outcry of emotion, with thousands of mourners branding it a ‘senseless death’ .Harry in Dublin Zoo led a life imprisoned for profit and human entertainment.
Either way the non humans pay with their lack of freedom even though the people who imprisoned and killed them say they were gentle giants. they were despite being raised in alien prisons and doing the humans wishes. They lose their families and are never free to just ‘be’ in a natural environment.
Zoos are penetentiarys for innocent creatures. Does that matter to those profiting from them….of course not.
have your say