Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)

I propose to share time with Deputy Mulherin. The budget provision for 2012 will be a major challenge for the HSE and comes at a time of significant reform of the public health system. The total cost reduction in 2012 will be €750 million. At the end of 2011, the employment control framework target for the HSE is 105,300. The HSE estimates that the actual number employed at the end will be 104,500, some 800 under the ceiling. There is also a plan to provide for the recruitment of about 400 staff from mental health services on foot of the additional €35 million in expenditure. The closing date for retirement applications has arrived and some 3,700 staff have retired in the period from September 2011 to February 2012. A contingency plan has been developed at the local HSE level in the context of the national and regional services process. All regional plans are being developed on the basis of anticipated numbers of staff.

On Monday, December 2011, I as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, called on the Minister and chief executive of the HSE to make the situation regarding possible nursing home closures clear as soon as possible. I also expressed the concern of the people of Louth about the possible closure of the nursing home in Drogheda, the Cottage Hospital, and St. Joseph's in Ardee. Since that request the Minister has met with both nursing homes and given them options and hope, which I appreciate. Both have also had meetings with the HSE. St. Joseph's Hospital has received a promise from the HSE that an appraisal will be done by the end of March. It has also agreed to meet on 24 February 2012 to give the hospital an updated progress report.

I refer to the special delivery unit, SDU. Its priorities have been set by the Minister, Deputy Reilly. The first priority is a reduction in the number of patients spending long periods of time on trolleys and the second is the reduction in the number of people on the inpatient waiting list. As can be seen by recent results, this is happening. It is worth noting that 15 hospitals are responsible for approximately 80% of the trolley waiting list and if we look further we find eight hospitals were responsible for almost 60% of the problem.

The SDU has spent a considerable time analysing the problem in our hospitals and has had latitude to consider the situation on a multi-hospital basis. Each of the relevant eight hospitals was invited to the SDU to seek support under certain headings. The requested support has been analysed by the SDU in consultation with the HSE.

In the case of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, the hospital has requested a range of support and the SDU has agreed to a set of proposal at a cost of €725,710. The main measure of approval for the hospital was to extend the AMAU to 18 hours seven days a week; open eight medical beds in Drogheda; open an additional 28 low acute beds in the Louth county Hospital in Dundalk; open an additional 27 low acute beds in the community; and organise additional long-term beds.

I was glad to hear the Minister, Deputy Reilly, say today that he had plans for the future of the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk. It is a minor injury unit, open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. There is an attendance fee of €100 but patients referred by GPs or who have medical cards are exempt from the charge. There is a stroke and rehab unit and palliative medical ward in the hospital. Day services include a haemochromatosis clinic, an elderly assessment unit, a cardiac rehab unit, cardiac services, pre-assessment clinics, a diabetes day centre and a heart failure clinic. The outpatient clinic includes general medicine, gynaecology, antenatal care, paediatric care, orthopaedic care, vascular care and a warfarin unit. It also has physiotherapy services, a radiology department, CT services, ultrasounds, occupational therapy, laundry and theatres. It has outstanding facilities and I thank the Minister for his help.

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