Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is not unique to Cappagh hospital or the Dublin area. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health who, unfortunately, is out of the country.

The Minister for Health briefed the House on Cappagh hospital's operating theatres in November last year. Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital is one of the major elective orthopaedic facilities in Ireland, providing a national secondary and tertiary referral service for orthopaedic care for both adults and children. The Minister met representatives from Cappagh late last year to discuss the issues faced by the hospital. As a result of the increase in the number of overall patient referrals, a reduced budget, cessation of funding from the National Treatment Purchase Fund and a reduction in private income, there was a reduction in the surgical capability of the hospital. Although Cappagh hospital has a total of seven operating theatres and there were sufficient consultant staff available to provide services to meet demand requirements, not all theatres were in use in 2014.

It is of note that, at the end of 2014, overall staffing levels at Cappagh hospital were not significantly less than they were in 2008. There were approximately 330 whole-time equivalents, WTEs, in 2014 compared with 328 WTEs in 2008. The number of nursing WTEs fell slightly between 2008 and 2014, from approximately 124 to 123, the number of medical and dental WTEs increased from 36 to approximately 43 and is at its highest level since 2008.

However, in 2014, Cappagh hospital experienced an unprecedented increase of approximately 40% in demand for inpatient treatment, a level of increase that was not observed in other sites.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that further funding of €800,000 was provided in late 2014, which allowed Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital to undertake additional workload. Furthermore, the HSE, through its 2015 budget allocation process, has also provided Cappagh hospital with additional resources of €4 million over its 2014 allocation to allow for an increase in inpatient procedures. The 2015 budget allocation process has also provided for the opening of closed and under-utilised capacity at Cappagh hospital. This will enable the opening of an additional 1.5 theatres per day, bringing the total number of theatres open to four, which will allow Cappagh to increase activity levels and to address significantly its current waiting list breach volumes.

In 2015, the HSE will continue to engage with the hospital regarding its budget and to explore mechanisms to ensure optimal use of resources, including theatre capacity, at the hospital within the overall resources available to the acute sector. The Deputy will also be aware that Cappagh hospital is part of the Ireland east hospital group, which includes Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, Wexford General Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, St. Colmcille's Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, and the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. I am also confident that there will be a structured integration of Cappagh hospital into the Ireland east hospital group in 2015 and that this will provide opportunities and support for Cappagh hospital in managing demand and delivering high-quality, safe patient care in a cost-effective manner.

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