Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the resignation of the consultant doctor, Dr. Oscar Breathnach from his position at Cork University Hospital. His resignation was greeted with disbelief by the people of Cork and Kerry, especially those dependent on the vital oncology services in the region. Dr. Breathnach resigned because of the failure of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and her Department to provide the resources for a dedicated oncology ward in the area and the lack of a back-up service due to the shortage of consultant colleagues. For four years, Dr. Breathnach informed the health board and the management of Cork University Hospital that such a dedicated ward was vital for an efficient and effective oncology service to be available to the people of the region. He resigned out of disillusionment and frustration at the indecisiveness of the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and his successor, Deputy Harney.

It is ironic that Dr. Breathnach has been offered a job in the Dublin area where he will be one of 12 medical oncologists providing treatment. At the same time, the Cork-Kerry region will have just one. Cork University Hospital is hoping to get a locum consultant for the post in the coming weeks. Realistically, it will be at least 2006 before this post will be filled, if the hospital can manage to recruit anybody given the shortfalls of the service. In the meantime, in Dublin, two additional positions have been advertised and interviews will take place shortly. A further two positions are at the planning stage. These posts are attractive as they offer, at most, two hospital site locations. This is in contrast to Cork, where any position is based on three hospital sites. In Dublin, all units have dedicated oncology wards, while Cork has none.

Dr. Oscar Breathnach's resignation raises two issues. First, there is a need for a dedicated cancer ward for the region. Second, additional consultant posts must be provided. Several efforts to develop an oncology ward at Cork University Hospital have not been fruitful. When the new radiotherapy unit was being built, it was suggested that an oncology ward be built over it. However, this was rejected by the then Minister for Health and Children. That the day procedures unit lies idle is another scandal. If this were opened, it would free up space that could be quickly converted into an oncology ward. The situation at Cork University Hospital is disorganised as cancer patients are situated in nearly every ward, doubling the time required to see them, fragmenting their care and making it sub-optimal.

The chronic climate of under-resourcing in the region is impacting on other consultant posts. A recent consultant radiotherapy post, the first in Cork in ten years, attracted only one candidate for interview. A recent post in one of the other Cork hospitals attracted two candidates. However, a similar post at St. James's in Dublin attracted 22 applicants. Dr. Breathnach's resignation is symptomatic of several key issues in the Cork area that are not just cancer related. I hope the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, will give us positive information and this crisis in Cork can be reversed before Dr. Breathnach finally leaves his position. I blame the Minister for Health and Children, and her predecessor, for an appalling lack of proper planning in the delivery of hospital services in the Cork-Kerry area. I hope it is not too late to rectify the problem.

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