James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The epilepsy national clinical care programme provides for the commissioning of a regional epilepsy monitoring unit to be based in Cork University Hospital. This unit will provide accessible comprehensive care for patients in the southern area, particularly those with acutely unstable and disabling chronic epilepsy.

The executive management board of Cork University Hospital allocated ward 3A as a suitable location for the epilepsy monitoring unit to be shared with the facility for stroke services. Funding of €140,000 was provided for the infrastructural upgrade of ward 3A and a further €217,000 was provided for the purchase of the required epilepsy monitoring equipment.

The HSE has advised that commissioning of the unit requires the recruitment of additional nursing and allied health professional staff. Recruitment of nursing staff has, I understand, been particularly challenging, but I am assured the recruitment process is in the final stages, and candidates who were successful at interview are now being offered contracts of employment.

I have also been assured the unit is now equipped and will open no later than 31 March 2014 and I look forward to seeing the Deputy there.

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