Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted that the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, is in the Chamber to listen to my pleas today. We waited in anticipation for a great deal of time for the Higgins report. I acknowledge that it was pulled and pushed around and that Kilkenny made a break for the border to align with Dublin. We had been working hard in the south east region for many years. We had accepted the fact that there would be change and accepted the Higgins report as an honest effort to tidy up our hospital systems. We welcome the fact that we are linked with Cork University Hospital, which is a teaching hospital. However, I want a commitment from the Minister that the seven senior registrar posts at South Tipperary General Hospital will be filled. These are senior positions for real decision-makers working under consultants. I compliment the consultants, medical staff, nurses and other full-time staff on the work they do daily to deal with the issues that arise, particularly since the closure of Nenagh General Hospital and of St. Michael's unit at South Tipperary General Hospital, with the relocation of beds to Kilkenny. These are vital posts but the hospital and regional management seem to be unable to recruit people to fill them. The deadline of 8 July is little more than a week away. I understand there is very little interest in the posts. There is nothing wrong with the facility; it is a question of an unfair balance. I call on the Minister, in the spirit of the Higgins report, our linkage with Cork and the hospital group system, to ensure that registrars are redeployed to us forthwith.

We had 32 people on trolleys in our hospital last week as we did not have senior staff to deal with the situation. We do not have anything like a full complement of staff, being short of five registrars. We will be short of the full seven by 8 July 2013. It is a serious situation. I hope it is not a question of sabotage and that we will not be closed by stealth or through something happening behind the scenes. The Minister gave a commitment to keep our hospital. These positions must be filled. I appeal and demand, as an elected representative of the people of south Tipperary, that these posts be filled, even temporarily, with registrars from Cork, Limerick and other hospitals in the group to maintain vital services and safety at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. It must happen.

The hospital management must be empowered if it lacks the power to attract people. I do not know what the reasons are. The Minister is perhaps aware of the reasons and might outline them to the House. We need support now. We are on a lifeline. If we do not recruit the registrars by 8 July we will be in big trouble. I do not want to be all doom and gloom; I want to be positive about our hospital and support it. I am critical when it is required. We have had two HIQA reports that were anything but pleasing. I am no apologist for uncleanliness in hospitals, especially where people's lives are at stake, or for lacklustre management and too many trolleys on the floor. However, I stand shoulder to shoulder with consultants and all staff from the front door up to the very top on recruiting the full complement we need. Given our reciprocal relationship with Cork and Limerick, they must provide senior registrars this week. Next week will be too late. The appointments must be made and the registrars must be on site to do rounds with junior doctors and senior house officers. We need the full complement to have a safe working hospital. The hospital has been recognised over the years for providing the treatment that the public expects and deserves.

It is over to the Minister. I hope he will have good news for me. I hope he will be able to ensure that we get these staff rather than excuses that they cannot be recruited. If necessary, staff must be redeployed.

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