Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance and their comprehensive opening statements. I would like to direct my questions to Dr. Pat Nash, clinical director of the Saolta group. University Hospital Galway has been frequently on code black and a maximum capacity protocol has been implemented on a number of occasions recently. As stated by Mr. Power in his opening statement, the Saolta group provides care for 830,000 people within the catchment area. Will Dr. Nash advise how the designation of University Hospital Galway as a centre of excellence has affected the hospital? It is the only model 4 hospital in the stretch of area from Donegal down to Limerick. I am shocked in that I believe it has had an adverse effect on capacity at that hospital, notwithstanding the exceptional expertise of the staff working there. Will Dr. Nash comment on the average length or rate of stay at the University Hospital Galway compared to other model 4 hospitals across the country? I understand it is better than most, which would be a positive reflection on the hospital's doctors, nurses and other staff, and would prove to me that there is a capacity issue.

An amount of €109 million has been spent on capital investment at University Hospital Galway during the past ten years but it has led to a reduction of approximately 157 beds in that period. As a clinician working at coalface, can Dr. Nash advise how that has impacted on the day to day running of the hospital from the point of view of the patient and his colleagues?

Mr. Power referred to the Merlin Park site and need for a new acute hospital in Galway. This is a site of approximately 150 acres of State-owned land. I am aware that over the years beds have been moved from Merlin Park Hospital to University Hospital Galway, and some have disappeared altogether. In hindsight, does Dr. Nash believe that has been a retrograde step? Does a new acute hospital have the support of senior clinicians at University Hospital Galway?

Over recent weeks and months, this committee has had many discussions on community care, the need for primary care centres and how that would take pressure off hospitals across the country. It would be important to get the Dr. Nash's view on that in regard to the Saolta hospital group, the catchment area it serves, and whether that would make a huge difference regarding the need for extra bed capacity.