Yes Minister, Mayo hospital is in crisis and needs urgent investment

by Caoimhín Rowland

On a hiding to nothing, like a lamb to slaughter, was the best way to describe newly minted Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on February 4 on her visit to Mayo University Hospital.

Initially billed as a political meet and greet to 'touch base' with emergency staff, the visit came after battling through hurricane winds and subsequent power outages - blackouts that have persisted for a fortnight.

“I wanted to come to the department at its busiest, not when it’s at its quietest.”

This was an evident slight on her former government colleague and previous Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, who was previously criticised for signalling intent to visit hospitals and then being pictured inside empty emergency departments, painting an unrealistic version of the buckling Irish healthcare system.

Whether it was his fault for preparing the PR opportunity, or hospital staff for trying to put the best foot forward, it was notable as a change from how the least electorally successful health minister in recent times operated.

MacNeill is widely believed to be next in line to lead Fine Gael, following the inevitable leadership transition or coup on the current Tánaiste.

Four of her predecessors - Micheál Martin, Leo Varadkar, Brian Cowen and Simon Harris - all endured their time in health before moving forward to lead the nation.

On the day of Varadkar's shock resignation almost a year ago, senior Fianna Fáil members feared her potential leadership more than Simon Harris's.

At the time, it wasn't her moment.

Despite having a mother from Bohola, a husband of Irish rugby royalty, and a commanding cabinet position, she could not escape the embittered public outside Mayo hospital's steps in Castlebar.

Beneath a blaring tannoy, and passing motorists beeping at friends and family to inform them they’re better idling in their car by the hospital doors than finding a spot in the clogged car park, the PR personnel arranged for MacNeill to address the media under an expected Mayo rain shower.

The hospital's interior, like the car park, was presumably too busy for even the minister.

Mayo has been one of the worst impacted counties by successive storms - Darragh, Éowyn and even the 'midges out and it’s lights out', as Councillor Gerry Coyle lately remarked, ultimately causing power outages and major disruptions.

Fianna Fáil Minister Dara Calleary called this storm 'precedented', arguing we should be more prepared for such events. However, all of this sentiment falls on cold, deaf ears for those enduring weeks without power.

The minister spoke about the reasons for such an uptick in patients in the aftermath of the storm. She said it was added by “a group of people who hadn’t been presenting, for medical reasons and social reasons.”

MacNeill had a well-prepared script highlighting prior government investment of a generator in the hospital, but water supply poses the gravest worry for the hospital.

Patients undergoing dialysis treatment are particularly vulnerable during power outages and subsequent water disruptions.

"That's the biggest worry," amongst words like future-proof and learnings, we heard that we must prepare, “a whole of society resilience piece.”

Mayo has proven to be resilient, if not known for little else, its basic governmental supports and infrastructure that is required to keep the lights on and the taps flowing.

While Castlebar and the hospital might rapidly restore power, the critical question remains: Are facilities in Lough Mask and across various county and group water schemes prepared to survive even longer future blackouts?

A prospect the minister outlined is distinctly plausible.

Her response was non-committal - they should be prepared, but it's technically the Department of Housing's responsibility.

"Lessons will be learned," embodying the well-practiced art of passing the buck and shirking responsibility so many have come to recognise as a governing coalition cliché.

This is what frustrates ordinary people most: being forgotten, left in darkness, with no phone signal, while a newly formed government bickers like schoolchildren.

The political own goals have come fast in this new government, but the familiar coalition makeup has solidified a previously disparate opposition.

The environment that has been created allows populism to fester and grow. If people see little action in the storm's aftermath, it will only reinforce sentiments of being a forgotten land of little national importance.

Despite Mayo providing and exporting more than its fair share of energy, why can we not at the very least have a grid capable of withstanding storms and back-up generators in critical reservoirs.

Mayo’s political landscapes could see a swift sea change - a transformation already subtly in motion.

Aontú TD Paul Lawless seized his Dáil debut via social media with a viral clip questioning why the government couldn't house Irish citizens in hotels as they did for refugees.

While his argument is a hollow form of whataboutery, it’s vital to note that hotels offered reduced rates and government assistance facilitates reimbursement.

These facts don’t matter to the folks on the ground because it resonates. The sentiment shared by Lawless is regularly heard in Mayo's shops, cafés and pubs.

Dismissing people's concerns and repeatedly telling them "lessons will be learned" only fuels the growth of alternative political narratives.

Whether accurate or not, it’s what people 'feel' is correct that matters today in politics.