Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I will take this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. Services at Connolly Hospital are provided by the Health Service Executive. The hospital is one of three providers of adult urology services on the north side of the city, the others being Beaumont and the Mater.

The HSE has advised that the current urology service at Connolly Hospital is provided by one consultant urologist with a four session commitment each week. It further advises that all emergency and follow-up outpatient services are provided. Urgent prostate referrals are seen within one to two weeks. Due to an increase in clinical workload, no routine first-visit outpatient appointments are being allocated at present. The HSE will ensure there is no interruption to urgent urology services and that any reduction in routine services will be in the short term only.

The Department of Health and Children is advised that in light of these urology service pressures, Connolly Hospital plans, in conjunction with Beaumont Hospital, to recruit an additional consultant urologist. The intention is to provide the service by way of locum cover pending the filling of the post on a permanent basis. The Department is advised by the HSE that the necessary funding is available for this post and that it is expected to be filled within a matter of months.

See this speech in context