Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue. I was disturbed and shocked to learn that the waiting list in the urology unit at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, now exceeds two years and that the unit plans to close its doors to all but emergency cases. This is a shocking state of affairs. It is of particular concern at a time when such prominence is given to men's health and the provision of health services for men through public advertising to encourage them to avail of regular screening for the detection of prostate cancer.

On the one hand, the HSE is encouraging men to seek early diagnosis and assistance through screening programmes. On the other hand, however, those men who need to avail of urology services at Connolly Hospital will find it is unable to cope with the extra demand. The Taoiseach said today that there is an easy solution to such problems because those with private health insurance will be able to avail of new private hospital facilities. Under the Fianna Fáil model of health provision, it seems patients will be instructed to turn one way for the public service, only to find no service is available, and the other for private hospital services, if they are appropriately insured.

Patients in Dublin 15 will have to go elsewhere for urology services, most likely to the Mater or Beaumont. Last year, there were 1,200 trips by inpatients in Blanchardstown to Beaumont and the Mater for diagnosis and screening, including MRI and CT scans, at an average cost per patient of more than €400. It seems the same will now happen with urology services. The round trip to the Mater from Blanchardstown, assuming that the traffic is relatively good, is at least two hours. This does not take into account the time spent at the hospital.

This situation underlines yet again the Government's lack of commitment to the long-term development of Connolly Hospital. The sole policy in regard to the hospital seems to be to promote the development of a private hospital by selling or leasing off some of the grounds of the public hospital. While I was Minister of State in the rainbow coalition, €72 million was set aside in 1996 for Connolly Hospital and left as a dowry to the incoming Government. Ten years later, however, only phase 1 has been developed. Phase 2 was commenced only because the general election is on its way. The hospital does not even have a CT or MRI scanner even though it serves a very large population across the Dublin 15 area, Cabra, Finglas and a significant part of Meath.

The long-serving and hard-working staff in Connolly Hospital provide excellent care to patients but it is difficult to see how they will not be demoralised. Although several additional consultants have been appointed, they lack the facilities and equipment to do their job. The hospital has put forward a request for additional urology consultants to be appointed but nothing has been done so far.

I raise this as a matter of urgency. As with education and policing, as far as this Government is concerned, Dublin West is far down the list of priorities. Connolly Hospital seems to be further down the list than most issues.

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