Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

——as Deputies are well aware. That is their responsibility. It includes responsibility for the funding and the operation of services at Kerry General Hospital. Professor Drumm, as chief executive, is heading up the Health Service Executive and he is also a medically qualified individual. No doubt he would be interested to entertain representations from the doctors in question.

I understand that recently the newly appointed hospital network manager met the executive management board of Kerry General Hospital to discuss priority issues for the hospital in 2006. The development of cardiology services at the hospital is a priority. Hospital management has prioritised the appointment of a full-time cardiologist at Kerry General Hospital and the application for the post is being considered at present by the National Hospitals Office.

Discussions are ongoing regarding the re-organisation of appropriate staffing levels in the accident and emergency department. The HSE in the southern area has also confirmed that there is no change in the status of the accident and emergency consultant in the terms of his employment at Kerry General Hospital.

The HSE and hospital management are making themselves available to discuss matters of concern raised by local general practitioners recently. It is also proposed to establish a general practitioner liaison group with the hospital which will include consultant medical staff, hospital management, general practitioners and a representative from community services in the HSE. If general practitioners are concerned, certainly the door is open at the HSE and with hospital management to discuss these concerns.

A number of developments are being planned for the hospital, including a new emergency department and ambulatory care unit. The design brief for these developments has already been finalised and a notice for the appointment of the design team was posted in the EU Journal earlier this month. The construction of the palliative care day unit has commenced on the grounds of the hospital.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is confident that the Health Service Executive will continue to develop the services provided at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee to ensure the delivery of high quality services to the people of County Kerry and those from the surrounding areas who depend on that hospital service.

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