Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Acting Chairman and the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the important issue of South Tipperary General Hospital. It employs 450 people and has a 275 bed capacity. More than 1,100 babies were delivered there last year and the level of surgical procedures, including day cases, is extremely high.

As a teaching hospital which has worked to incorporate changes in work practice and medical standards and has taken on various services following amalgamation with Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel, South Tipperary General Hospital has excelled at every level. The amalgamation was a major process which took many years and only concluded after the Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, support group took a case to the High Court and secured an agreement.

Now, many years after this amalgamation, serious concerns are being expressed to me by my constituents with regard to surgery and maternity services at the hospital. There is great fear among the community. People are extremely anxious at the prospect of losing some of the many services currently available at South Tipperary General Hospital. Already cancer services have been moved, with little notice, to Waterford Regional Hospital. Many people supported this particular decision but they are now dissatisfied with the services that were put in place in Waterford. The concern is that more services will be transferred in the same manner.

The level of efficiency South Tipperary General Hospital has achieved is exceptional. It works extremely well with community services, the acute care service is particularly good and the maternity service was deemed the second best in the State by patients. A High Court case was brought to ensure the retention of services at the hospital when changes were made to the level of services at Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel. The local community is of the view that South Tipperary General Hospital is performing well, efficiently and with a genuine vision for the future.

Will the Minister of State clarify the situation for hospital staff, patients and the community in south Tipperary? Will he indicate the Government's future intentions for the hospital? Some weeks ago, a public meeting was held in Clonmel. The attendance and level of community awareness indicated the degree of concern among locals.

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