Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I am glad the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moloney, is in the Chamber to address my concerns.

I chose the term "contraction" in my submission for the Adjournment because, after several announcements in the past week, health services in County Kerry are being decimated. At Kerry General Hospital, the Annagh ward, a male surgical ward, will only open five days a week. From now on, one should not even think of getting sick over the weekend in Kerry. How will, for example, an accident that requires male surgery be dealt with on a Saturday?

The hospital's orthopaedic unit, the Rathass ward, will be closed for six months for refurbishment. Where will male orthopaedic patients be cared for? It must also be remembered that Kerry's population doubles over the summer due to visitors. How will the health services deal with these extra numbers when these wards are closed?

Six beds in the psychiatric unit in the hospital have been closed. Psychiatrists across the country are inundated with cases. The other day I learned from a GP that 80% of his patients looking for anti-depressant prescriptions were under 30 years of age. However, six beds in the psychiatric unit in Kerry General Hospital are closed. In these cost-saving measures the health of the people of County Kerry is irrelevant.

Up to 21 community beds in the Rowan ward at St. Columbanus's Home in Killarney have been closed. The ward was upgraded in 2007 at much expense. I do not have the exact figure for the remedial works as it is quite difficult to get information from the Health Service Executive. Where are the health services going? The Minister of State and his colleagues are jeopardising the health of the people in the county. After the closure of the Rowan ward, the female community bed ward will be next to be closed. I met recently with union representatives at the hospital and they are concerned that capacity will be reduced from 150 beds to 97.

Some children in County Kerry have been on orthodontic waiting lists for the past seven years. Kerry General Hospital still does not have an accident and emergency consultant. The last one left because he had no supports such as junior doctors or a registrar. He went to Tullamore, the Minister of State's locality, because in a similar sized hospital there he had two registrars, ten junior doctors and two other consultants. Recently, I met with the HSE representatives in Kerry who believe they will not bother appointing a replacement accident and emergency consultant for the county. Will the Minister of State explain what he will do for the health services in County Kerry?

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