Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I want to put the case for a CT scanner in the Portlaoise General Hospital, also known as the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. Has funding been provided in the 2006 Estimates for such a scanner? Recently, Estimates providing for record levels of funding have been approved by this House. I specifically direct my questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children so they will not be re-directed to the HSE. When the Tánaiste presented her Estimates as part of the overall Estimates process, she must have known the composition of the figures. From the point of view of people in County Laois, it will not be sufficient to claim it is a matter for the HSE. Either proposals have been brought and funding provided for a CT scanner in Portlaoise or they have not. I hope the Estimates, when they are produced, are based on factual information rather than providing for matters that may or may not transpire.

Significant improvements have been made in recent years at Portlaoise General Hospital. It now has an excellent paediatric unit and the year on year growth in the number of births in the hospital is a sign of increased activity. Next year, the accident and emergency department will move to a new unit, for which funding has already been put in place. In recent days, people in Portlaoise have been told that the final €600,000 of the more than €4 million needed to equip the new unit has been provided. In the coming months, work will commence on a much improved accident and emergency facility for Portlaoise General Hospital.

However, a CT scanner, which is a vital ingredient, will be missing. Of the three hospitals in the HSE midland regions, Tullamore and Mullingar have CT scanners but Portlaoise does not. I understand Tullamore also has a MRI scanner.

Each week, between 20 and 25 people have to be transported by ambulance from Portlaoise to Tullamore for CT scans. In some cases, the patients involved are in a post-operative state and in the intensive care unit. In addition to the ambulance crew and nurse who accompany most patients, those travelling from the intensive care unit may require the presence of an anaesthetist if they are under anaesthetic. While all these staff are taking patients to and from Tullamore, they are not available in Portlaoise for emergency medical cover. This has compromised the emergency medical services in County Laois because, on a daily basis, ambulance crews have been tied up with the transport of patients for routine CT scans which should be available in Portlaoise.

Approximately 1,000 journeys are made from Portlaoise to Tullamore for scans and, at an estimated cost of €500 per trip, they cost €500,000 per year. That amount would help to pay for a CT scanner in Portlaoise. While a CT radiographer would also be needed, the modest sums involved would provide for a better health service in Laois and neighbouring counties. I want the Tánaiste to confirm whether such a sum is included in the Estimates for 2006 and to tell me when a definitive answer will be given with regard to funding. It would make no sense if €4 million is invested in a new accident and emergency unit next year if funding for a CT scanner follows two or three years later. Next year is the time to provide all these facilities within the new accident and emergency unit in Portlaoise and I call on the Tánaiste to provide the funds.

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