30 of total 37 HIQA recommendations now successfully completed

Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath Senator Nicky McFadden has welcomed today’s (Tuesday) publication of HIQA’s second inspection report into Loughloe Nursing Home and has urged the Government to reconsider closing the facility due to the fact that a raft of improvements have been made since the publication of the first report.

“The essential care provided at Loughloe House was never in doubt - a fact that was evident in the public outrage at proposed plans to close the facility..

“Public facilities such as this, which benefit the local elderly community should not be closed down at the first sign of problems. Instead adequate funding must be made available to ensure satisfactory service provision.

“Of the 37 actions recommended on foot of the initial inspection at the Home, 30 have now been carried out successfully. It would be an outrage if Loughloe House was to be closed now, forcing those residing there to find another home.

“The HIQA report on Loughloe House found that the standard of hygiene had improved significantly, that the centre was more comfortable and that patients were extremely happy and receiving care in an unrushed manner.

“I do not accept that, as a caring community, it is to anyone’s advantage to close local public facilities for the elderly. Of course, people should be allowed to choose between public and private care services and, under the Fair Deal Scheme, to opt for their preferred centre. However I fervently believe that public facilities for the elderly are a critical element within local communities. I will not give up on this issue. Very often local public facilities offer a better standard of care than the private alternatives on offer. The people of Athlone have made their feelings about Loughloe House crystal clear. I am calling on the Government now to listen.”

   Nicky

Harney’s predilection for private health care continues

Fine Gael Longford/ Westmeath Senator, Nicky McFadden, has today (Monday) said the decision by the HSE to close Loughloe House Nursing Home, which has housed residents for 20 years, must be put on hold until a HIQA report on the facility is made public.

“Last Thursday 30 staff members and 26 residents were informed at separate meetings that Loughloe House is to be closed within two months. However, HIQA has informed me that a report it carried out on the nursing home, has still not been responded to by the HSE.

“News that residents, some of whom have resided at Loughloe House for decades, are to be relocated to private nursing facilities has caused widespread upset and distress. Residents, especially those who are relatively fit and mobile have told me that they are comfortable in their surroundings, familiar with the other residents and staff and consider the facility their home. A move to alternative accommodation is completely anathema to them.

“The content of this HIQA report should at least be made public before any decision on the future of the facility is made. So too should the number of inspections the facility has been subject to and the opportunities Loughloe House has been given to rectify any inadequacies. If the facility is as bad as has been alluded to by the HSE, how has this been allowed to happen and what steps have been taken by the Executive to satisfactorily resource the centre?

“There is a genuine fear for the residents, some of whom are in their nineties and who have no family to speak on their behalf. I am concerned that the shock of having to move to unfamiliar surroundings will cause them undue stress and adversely affect their health and well being.

“Any possibility that a care centre has not been adequately staffed or funded, allowing it to fall into a state of disrepair which facilitates its closure, absolutely must not be tolerated. Minister Harney’s announcement in Athlone yesterday that the closure of Loughloe House will free up staff for another local facility were inconsiderate and dismissive of residents’ feelings. Her predilection for the privatisation of our health care service continues unabated. I am calling on this decision to be stalled, at least until the content of HIQA’s report have been made known.”

Nicky with Olwyn Enright after meeting with IFA President John Byran and farm women's pension group

PRESS RELEASE -

Just ½ million needed to reinstate pensions while Anglo gets €40 billion

Fine Gael Longford/ Westmeath Senator, Nicky McFadden, has said the backing received by an Oireachtas Committee in relation to the protection of the pensions of farm spouses is a welcome reprieve during these dark days of assault by the Government on rural Ireland.

“The decision taken yesterday by the Social & Family Affairs Committee to back a proposal, set down by Fine Gael’s Olwyn Enright, calling for Minister O’Cuív to reverse the Government’s attack on farm spouse pensions is to be welcomed amidst the raft of unprecedented attacks on farming families of late.

“Recognising the difficulties faced by farmers, the Committee, moved to have the contributory old age pension for farm spouses reinstated, following the callous decision by Government to remove it. The restoration of these pensions would cost just €570,000, a mere pittance when consideration is given to the fact that €40 billion has been given over to nurse Anglo Irish Bank along with no systemic importance to the Irish banking system and no credit benefits for the ordinary citizen.

“It’s no secret that farm families have been hammered hard by this Fianna Fáil Government. They have seen their incomes plummet and much needed schemes revoked, pressing them to the pin of their collars.

“The REPS scheme has been cancelled only to be replaced by an inferior agri-environment scheme which will force farmers to do more for less in return. The Young Farmers’ Installation Aid Scheme and Early Retirement Scheme have also been abolished while the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and Forestry Premia have all been slashed.

“Rural Ireland is slowly being eroded with post offices being shut down, the constant threatened closure of rural Garda stations, hospitals and schools and a lack of provision for rural transport. I am calling on the Government to do the right thing, to reinstate the farm spouses’ pension and to cease these vicious and unjustified attacks on the hundreds of farming families across the country.”

Nicky and Dr. James Reilly TD at the Fine Gael FairCare public meeting in Mullingar

PRESS RELEASE -

Having attended the public protest march in Ballinasloe at the weekend, Fine Gael Longford/ Westmeath Senator Nicky McFadden congratulated the Portiuncula Action Committee for organising the hugely attended public event against the downgrading of services at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

Senator McFadden went on to compliment Dr. John Barton on his passionately delivered address to the meeting. “When in Government, we in Fine Gael will be committed to keeping open our local hospitals including Mullingar, Roscommon and Portiuncula. Under our FairCare proposal put forward by our Spokesperson on Health Dr. James Reilly TD we will deliver a health service that is fair and that will eliminate the two-tier system of service delivery.

“We will take the power for the management for our local hospitals away from the HSE by establishing local hospital trusts, comprising of elected representatives and staff representatives. These committees will manage their own budget for the benefit of our community. Portiuncula Hospital has served the people of Athlone for generations and the downgrading of services cannot and must not be tolerated.

“Under FairCare, Fine Gael is committed to ending waiting lists, putting more community based health care provision in place, ensuring free GP care for all, screening for illnesses, ending waiting lists and universal access to health services in hospitals that are funded on the basis of patients treated rather than outdated annualised budgeting”

Speaking in advance of the Fine Gael FairCare public meeting in Mullingar Park Hotel on Tuesday, 30th March, Senator Nicky McFadden said: ‘Over the past ten years our health service has become a complete shambles with excessively long out-patient waiting lists and short notice operation cancellations just the tip of the iceberg. The result of this appalling situation is that there is an average of 300 sick people on trolleys in hospitals across Ireland on any given day and things are only getting worse. Recently we witnessed the disaster in Tallaght Hospital whereby 58,000 X-rays were unread by a radiologist and thousands of GP referral letters were not even opened. Such are the examples of severely incompetent management by the Minister and the HSE.’

“In Longford/Westmeath, we are blessed to have a hospital, such as the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar, where the staff works tirelessly and under pressure to care for the sick of the region. I believe we have to provide our elderly throughout the country with a service such as St. Mary’s Care Centre that is respectful and treats people with dignity.

“People who suffer from mental illness deserve to be treated in a hospital that is fit for purpose and not condemned by the Mental Health Inspectorate as was recently the case with St. Loman’s in Mullingar. We are spending €15 billion on our health service. It’s high time the people of Longford/ Westmeath got their fair share.

“On taking office, Fine Gael, together with our Health Spokesperson, Dr. James Reilly TD, will implement our FairCare policy that will slash waiting lists and get the healthcare system back on track. Patients will no longer be seen as ‘costs’ or obstacles but as a source of ‘income’ to be regarded with respect. Our ‘money will follow the patient’ system of operation will ensure that hospitals are paid for the number of patients they treat instead of being allocated a set budget each year as is currently the case.

“We will put in place primary care centres, where groups of GPs and other health care professionals will treat the sick in purpose built premises with access to X-rays, ultrasounds and endoscopies. This will enable doctors to diagnose the patient in their communities therefore alleviating the pressure on A&Es. Lastly, FairCare will deliver universal health insurance, whereby every man, woman and child will be insured through the State at no extra cost than they are currently paying.

“I warmly invite the people of Longford/ Westmeath to come along to a public meeting with Fine Gael Party Leader Enda Kenny TD and Dr. James Reilly TD, to hear our radical proposals first-hand. The meeting will be held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Tuesday 30 March at 8pm.”

Enda Kenny cuts the ribbon at the official opening of Sen. Nicky McFadden's Constituency Office watched by Westmeath Fine Gael Councillors, Dep. James Bannon, and Rachael Barrington

Nicky’s speech at the official opening of her Constituency Office

Leader of FG, Deputy Kenny; Mayor Cooney; Chairman of Westmeath County Council, Fintan Cooney; Deputy James Bannon;  Deputy Denis Naughton; Cllr. Gabrielle McFadden; Cllr. Joe Whelan; Cllr. Joe Flanagan; Cllr. Colm  Arthur; Cllr. Paddy Belton; Cllr. Sean McKiernan; Cllr. Frank Kilbride; Pat McLoughlin;  Invited Guests from the constituency; Mr. Eamon Duignan, Constituency Chairman; Kevin O’Brien, District Chairman; Members of my Management Team and Supporters; Members of my Close Family; Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen…

The opening of my office in Athlone has long been an ambition and goal which I have wanted to achieve and tonight I am very honoured that the Leader of our party has personally joined us to preside and share in this moment.

 This is my 10th year in representative politics and in the context of serving the needs of the people the past year has been by far the most challenging of my career to date. The impact of the recession, people losing their jobs, the very serious flooding together with the bad weather has brought hardship of unknown proportions to so many families in this constituency and indeed beyond. Your presence at this official opening of my office embodies the whole community from state to semi-state, private sector, voluntary groups, local media and the religious communities. Indeed I am proud that members of the other political parties are also represented because when I am asked or requested to do something for a constituent I do not ask if they have a political allegiance. I fully appreciate we are all elected to office to serve all the community, and this office, including me and my team will continue that service, meeting and representing the needs of our local communities first in Longford/Westmeath.

Of course I am very proud of my political allegiance and indeed the decision to open this office has been borne out of my desire to further strengthen and increase the representational base of Fine Gael in the constituency.  As an elected Senator I fully realise how much of my time is spent in Dail Eirean and consequently I now find that having a local POINT OF CONTACT enables me to provide a more professional and effective service of representation in the constituency. I am very grateful to Elaine, my office manager whose contribution has been so valuable in this initial phase of the setting-up. I hope that the level of information, advice and representation for our constituents will be further enhanced in the coming year.

This office also symbolises my deep commitment to serve the people of Longford/Westmeath as a FG Senator and it further represents my determination and ambition to seek once again at the appropriate time the mandate and nomination from our FG delegates to successfully contest a seat in Dail Eireann in the next election and to ensure that Westmeath is represented by a FG TD. I intend with the help of my team and supporters to earn the respect and trust of the people who alone have the power to make our dream and vision a reality.

I am honoured that the party leader has accepted my invitation to open my office. Deputy Kenny was elected as one of the youngest members of the Dail at the age of 24. He became leader in 2002 and in the Election of 2004, Fine Gael’s became the largest and most united political Party in the Country.

Fine Gael out-performed expectations in the 2004 Local and European elections, which saw it, increase its representation from 4 MEPs of 15 from Ireland, to 5 from 13. This was the first time Fine Gael beat Fianna Fáil in a national election since 1927. The first stage of Fine Gael’s comeback and when the votes were counted in the 2007 general election it emerged that Fine Gael had made large gains, increasing its number of seats by twenty to give a total of 51 seats in the new Dáil. And you Enda have lead us to this victory.

At local level I was particularly appreciative that the Fine Gael Economic Forum, which met in the Radisson Hotel in Athlone last Nov. included the Party leader  and the entire Fine Gael economics team.  They took time out to meet and listen to the hard business realities in the current economic climate and to find ways to strengthen and support business in these challenging times.

Westmeath, due to its high dependence on manufacturing, is suffering, exposed to job losses and economic stagnation as is evidenced by the many factory closures over the past while. The advice and information that experienced local business people imparted to the delegation at this meeting will be used to influence Fine Gael policy on economic stimulation which will focus on job protection and creation initiatives, identifying and exploiting potential business growth areas in the process. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Dep. Denis Naughton who has recently been appointed as Chairman of the Economic Forum by Dep. Enda Kenny.

It is obvious that if the economy is to grow again, then jobs, businesses and entrepreneurship must be encouraged, resourced and supported by Government something which the present administration is clearly failing to achieve.  Only last night Cllr. Paddy Belton told me that the Longford County Enterprise board funding has been cut by 35%.

I am convinced that the Fine Gael approach to the economy is the correct one as it recognises that at the heart of the problem is the need to create new jobs and protect the ones we still have. Fine Gael has a plan in this regard and is still the only party with a plan to tackle our ever-growing jobs crisis.

What we must do is ensure that the actions taken to drag the economy back up off its knees are not simply punitive, are not simply cutbacks. Positive, flexible, joined-up Government thinking and action are what’s needed. Because, while house prices may drop and the construction industry may return to a reasonable and sustainable size, the real upside, the real hope for the future, is that this country never runs out of potential, energy, the willingness to pull together for the greater good.

Above all, we need a new view of Ireland as a nation filled with boundless potential, a nation with the capacity to lead, not follow, a nation where appeasement and cronyism, is a thing of the past and we invest in the future of our children, not rob from them. Postponement is not an option. Action is an imperative. That’s what we must harness, if we plan to turn these tough times into learning, rather than a crippling, experience.

The children of St. Patrick’s National School, Donabate recently held a ‘Mad Hair Day’ to raise funds for Athlone’s flood victims.  Nicky was delighted to receive a cheque for €1600 on behalf of the families affected by the floods. Well done to all concerned!