Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I seek a commitment from the Minister for Health and Children, and I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, will give that commitment because we mean what we say in the matter of Mallow General Hospital and we will not accept the diktat of the Health Service Executive in this matter. The non-designation of Mallow General Hospital for accident and emergency facilities must be changed. In 2005, 12,635 patients attended accident and emergency services in Mallow General Hospital while the number was 13,250 in 2004. In the southern hospitals group, Cork University Hospital, Kerry General Hospital, the Mercy Hospital Cork and the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital have all been designated for accident and emergency units.

The increase in population in Mallow and the north Cork area in general warrants the provision of an accident and emergency unit in Mallow General Hospital. More than 125 GPs refer patients to the hospital, which provides the only emergency and acute hospital service north of the River Lee. Without a 24-hour acute service at the hospital, providing medical, surgical and accident and emergency consultant cover, some patients will be up to two hours' journey from acute trauma and medical care. This is unacceptable by international standards. I ask the Minister of State also to address the delay in appointing a radiologist to Mallow General Hospital and the progress in regard to the establishment of a new board of management to look after the business and provide a separate budget for the hospital.

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