Speaking in the Seanad on Wednesday Senator Terry Leyden called for a serious debate on health services in the country, noting that "the managers of the HSE never propose that any manager be let go, but they propose the reduction of consultant numbers in smaller hospitals." Senator Leyden observed that in Roscommon "we have Accident & Emergency cover 24/7 at the moment and this saved the lives of Colm Mee and Paul O’Grady and a young man involved in a serious crash in Hillstreet this week. ‘Without the Accident & Emergency Department in Roscommon hospital, three lives would have been lost in the past two weeks in County Roscommon. This highlights the serious nature of the situation." The Senator went on to say that "Professor Drumm seems to be the Minister as well as being the chief executive of the HSE. I would like to see political responsibility for the management of the health service returned to the Oireachtas. "Hands off Roscommon’s Accident & Emergency Department and hands off Roscommon County Hospital which has saved all those lives in the past weeks. We have lost Kieran Kelly, Padraic McHugh and Danny Hynes unfortunately and there have been terrible tragedies in my area in the past week. Three young men have died on the roads of County Roscommon this week and also the bus driver who died (on Wednesday morning). ‘Without an Accident & Emergency service in Roscommon hospital, at least three more young men would have been lost in the past two weeks. What is more important and valuable than people’s health and well-being? What is more valuable than one life? What should it cost? "The present consultation with regard to Portiuncula Hospital will determine whether acute surgery will be discontinued but if it is discontinued, it will mean discontinuing Accident & Emergency services.’
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