Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I wish to discuss the Health Act 2004. This was passed by the Dáil to provide for the construction of private health care facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, on the grounds of public hospitals. Fianna Fáil Ministers and Deputies are implementing this legislation in the interests of the wealthy. This is being said by the public. The public is also saying the Fianna Fáil Party is being easily led on this question.

It is proposed to build a private hospital on the grounds of Cork University Hospital. Contrast this with Mallow, where a day procedure unit was promised in 2002 and has not yet been provided. Moreover, Mallow General Hospital serves a population of 90,000 to 100,000, with rapid growth in the area. In some instances people must wait up to two years for public services but consultants will tell patients that if they were private patients they would be treated within one or two weeks. That is not an exaggeration but a statement of fact.

Despite this, however, I am informed by the Health Service Executive that plans are underway to review the provision of acute general hospital services in the southern region, which includes Mallow. I have made repeated requests for the terms of reference of that review but to no avail. Perhaps the Minister of State will let me have those terms of reference. I am also informed that the committee undertaking the review will be chaired by a professor who is already the subject of an investigation by the Higher Education Authority relating to Cork University Hospital. The Minister should think about how that person will emerge from the investigation being undertaken by the HEA. It could be a serious matter.

More people are being forced into private nursing homes because of the lack of community beds yet the Government and the HSE have made no effort to standardise the subvention provided across the country.

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