Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I am somewhat confused because yesterday's article in The Irish Times stated "Minister Harney says HSE unable to fill the post of microbiologist". I tabled a parliamentary question in November about the infection control policy in St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, and the way in which the absence of a vital staff member, that is, a microbiologist was going to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The response I received from the HSE on 7 November was to the effect that specific policies are in place for the control and treatment of MRSA and C. difficile at St. Columcille's Hospital which are compliant with national infection control policies. There is an infection control committee in place and there is one whole-time permanent specialist infection control nurse. Consultant microbiology is available on request, when required.

Yet Dr. Donal O'Shea, whom the Tánaiste quoted earlier today, had acknowledged that there were improvements. We acknowledge there have been improvements. The challenge in St. Columcille's is that the building is 200 years old and it was built as a workhouse. It is the one hospital of that age that remains in what was the old Eastern Health Board area.

When a councillor from 1999 to 2004, I sat on a hospital review committee which recommended that this hospital be knocked and rebuilt either on the existing site or a new site, depending on other issues. That appraisal has not taken place. The HSE and the Department have concentrated on putting all their resources into a couple of major hospitals. That is the hospital for Wicklow people and the people of Shankill, Killiney, Ballybrack and Loughlinstown. It is unacceptable in this day and age that the staff who work hard are left with the challenge of trying to address MRSA without the help of a microbiologist. The manger, the consultant endocrinologist and the county coroner have all called for such a post. We need answers.

See this speech in context