The emergency department in University Hospital Galway is not fit for purpose in this day and age, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil.

“The staff work under extraordinary conditions,’’ he added. “It is one of the most inadequate facilities in the country and needs to be replaced.’’

He said he was not aware of the stage of design of a new department and the HSE had to send in it a service plan to Minister for Health Leo Varadkar shortly.

“It is very necessary that this piece of infrastructure be provided,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny made his remarks during heated exchanges with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.

Mr Martin said everybody from the northwest and across the western seaboard must go to Galway University Hospital.

“The community nurses I met say people out in the community are begging them not to be sent to the emergency department in the hospital because of circumstances and conditions,’’ he added.

Six-week-old baby

Mr Martin said replacing the emergency department was not included in the capital plan.

Mr Kenny said a capital programme was subject to a mid-term review.

Mr Adams raised the case of a six-week-old baby who spent 11 hours in the emergency department of Cork University Hospital. The infant was unable to hold her bottle down, he added.

Mr Kenny said he expected the hospital management to respond to the HSE and the Minister on the issue.

“I am glad the little child is recovering well,’’ he added. “I am sorry that she was on a trolley for those hours.’’

Mr Adams said he had also spoken to a woman constituent who had been told she had to pay €75 a day for being on a trolley in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

Her son had a rare genetic condition and only had a GP visit card.

Degraded

“She says she feels degraded,’’ he added. “She has worked all her life and she has paid taxes.’’

Mr Adams said Mr Kenny was responsible for a health service in chaos and there was no point in him saying he was sorry.

“If the deputy had said sorry himself a few times in the past, it might have helped matters as well,’’ Mr Kenny replied. “Of course, Deputy Adams does not use the Irish public health service in the first place.’’

Mr Kenny said the woman admitted to hospital was later taken to a ward and the hospital had waived the charge against that period.

The Taoiseach said he did not know her son’s circumstances but there was a very flexible system for application for medical cards.

Mr Kenny said if Mr Adams thought it was not appropriate to say sorry in such cases, then he disagreed with him.

“The Taoiseach has to say more than sorry; he has to fix it,’’ Mr Adams replied.