Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am taking the matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Harney, the Minister for Health and Children. I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising this important matter.

The appointment of a full-time consultant cardiologist for Kerry General Hospital is a priority for the southern hospitals group of the Health Service Executive, HSE. The management of the hospital itself is committed to providing the best possible quality of care to all its patients and is working with the National Hospitals Office of the HSE to further enhance the cardiology service at the hospital during the coming year.

In line with the cardiovascular health strategy, Building Healthier Hearts, published in 1999, investment in the development of cardiology services has taken place across the region, in both Cork and Kerry. Kerry General Hospital received €503,778 over the first three years of the strategy to develop cardiology-related services. This resulted in approval to recruit a number of staff, including four coronary care unit nurses, an occupational therapist, two student cardiac technicians, a cardiac rehabilitation sister and cardiac rehabilitation nurse, a dietician and a physiotherapist.

In 2004, the fourth year of the strategy, €160,000 was allocated to begin the process of establishing a consultant cardiology service in Kerry with a full-year allocation of €476,000 in 2005. This funding allowed the HSE south to appoint a cardiac technician, nurse and clerical support as well as providing certain non-pay costs.

The strengthening of the infrastructure in Kerry General Hospital has so far enabled the hospital to develop a cardiac rehabilitation service, a cardiac non-invasive diagnostic service, to extend its telemetry service in the CCU, extend its resuscitation training programme and provide for ongoing staff training. It has also ensured that essential cardiac equipment was procured for the cardiology service at the hospital.

The HSE has advised my Department that currently a consultant cardiologist from the Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee, is working in a partnership arrangement with Kerry General Hospital, thus facilitating the development of specialist cardiology services. Kerry General Hospital and the HSE southern area remain committed to enhancing the cardiology service at the hospital in line with Government policy and at the rate at which resources can be allocated.

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