Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

Last February, we raised this issue of gynaecological services in Cork. On that occasion, the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, was acting on behalf of the Minister, who incidentally is not in the House this evening. She stated in her response that it was planned that some minor surgical procedures would be carried out at the Cork University Hospital on a trial basis on Thursday, 27 March, with the aim of expanding the gynaecology service from the first week in April. She stated the ultimate aim was to have the gynaecological theatre open on a five-day per week basis. She claimed these developments indicated that gynaecological services continued to be improved in Cork University Hospital.

That was three months ago, but no improvement has taken place. Waiting times for Cork women in need of urgent gynaecological investigations are set to remain as health officials continue to renege on promised services and the Minister fails to deliver on her commitment. This is despite the warning from general practitioners in Cork that women's lives are being put at risk by the wholly inadequate gynaecological service based at a maternity facility that cost €75 million.

The doctors, members of the Cork city branch of the Irish College of General Practitioners, have described the situation as a disaster waiting to happen. Cork women over the age of 50 with suspected cancer of the womb have been forced to wait for months for crucial investigations, due to what has been described as underfunding in the service. These are women who could be treated in a morning. Two of the three operating theatres are closed and women with cancer will be told they cannot be examined. This is a diabolical state of affairs. A hospital in which €75 million has been spent on developing state-of-the-art gynaecological facilities has two of these facilities closed. This is because the HSE has failed to put staff in place due to a recruitment embargo by the Minister for Health and Children. I would like the Minister of State to inform the House this evening when the doors to these facilities will open and services will be put in place.

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