Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

This service has been in Cork for more than 20 years with a proven and exemplary record in providing prosthetic services. There are two essential elements to prosthetic services. First, there is the measuring and fitting of the limb. Second, there is the provision of aftercare and support services required by patients. There are concerns among users of this service as to what will happen to them in the future. Many of them are asking why should a service that works so well be dismantled by the HSE and the National Rehabilitation Hospital while a lesser service is put in its place. This is a local service meeting local needs that has built up a wealth of experience in the past 20 years. Deputy Kathleen Lynch attested to this with her example of the young woman who grew up with the service.

Were studies carried out into the costs of moving this service and, more importantly, its impact on patient care? People are really worried about this. People who have had limbs fitted and are getting aftercare, support and adjustments are now asking who will provide the aftercare and adjustment services if there is a change of company? It is a critical question which the Minister needs to answer. We could have a situation where people who have had limbs fitted in the past 12 months or two years now find that they will have to have their limbs refitted because the new company is coming into operation which will not deal with patients who had their limbs fitted by another company.

See this speech in context