Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies Hayes and McGrath for raising this issue. I am taking this adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The provision of services at South Tipperary General Hospital and across the south-east region in general is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The Government is committed to providing a high quality service for all patients. South Tipperary General Hospital is a key element of hospital services, as outlined by both Deputies Hayes and McGrath. It has 253 beds providing acute services for the south Tipperary population of 82,000 people. It also provides services for the bordering areas of north Tipperary and west Waterford, thus increasing the catchment area to in excess of 100,000 people.

Activity in South Tipperary General Hospital in 2007 included 12,346 inpatients discharged; 4,907 day cases seen; 39,004 outpatient attendances; and 28,139 emergency department attendances. The number of births in the hospital, at 1,138, was the highest recorded since 1987 when 1,202 babies were born.

Following the amalgamation of Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel and South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, in January 2007, major capital development was required to facilitate the transfer of accident and emergency services, general surgery and oncology services from Our Lady's Hospital to Clonmel. The Government has facilitated this strategic development with capital funding of €30 million. Phase 1 of the development included the new radiology unit; the medical emergency room; an ongoing refurbishment programme to upgrade wards, including the maternity ward, and the refurbishment of the new areas for the laboratory and pharmacy services. Other capital works to facilitate the amalgamation of the hospitals included the extension and refurbishment of the staff restaurant, the temporary outpatients building and the extension of car parking facilities for patients and staff.

I understand the national capital steering group will meet shortly to consider the extension of the emergency department and the addition of a ten-bed medical assessment unit. The commissioning of services flowing from the capital developments completed in the recent past, including the 23-bed acute care unit in South Tipperary General Hospital, will be considered within the HSE's overall budget. The National Hospitals Office of the HSE must operate within budget, in common with the entire health service. The HSE will continue to do all it can to ensure the provision of a high quality, patient-focused, service for the people of south Tipperary.

I will bring the contents of the Deputies' contributions on the Adjournment to the attention of the Minister.

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