Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing us to raise this issue. I also thank the Minister of State for attending. A positive aspect of my locality is Naas hospital. It has tremendous staff and management and is probably one of the most efficient hospitals in the country in terms of what it sets out to achieve. It is in the process of seeking planning permission for an endoscopic unit, which I hope will be up and running in the coming years.

We must consider the demographical pressure on the hospital. County Kildare has the second largest population in Leinster and has a large number of over 65 year olds. Both trends will continue growing. There are also 17 nursing homes in the immediate vicinity of Naas General Hospital, which automatically places pressure on the hospital. I understand that some agency staff have been replaced by full-time nursing staff, given the difficulty involved in finding nursing staff. In fairness to the hospital's management, 46 beds are open that, strictly speaking, should not be, but this has placed additional pressures on its budget.

A couple of issues are causing this problem. The fair deal scheme has been delayed in respect of a number of elderly patients who, despite wanting to go to nursing homes, are still occupying beds in the hospital. The staff are under extreme pressure because of their workload and their numbers have decreased considerably. I ask that the hospital be allowed to work within its budget to open a number of extra beds on a permanent basis instead of ad hocand without the HSE's approval.

See this speech in context