Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking time out to deliver this statement on health. I received a similar response from the HSE to a parliamentary question which I raised in early October. The Minister of State has outlined the problems, but we do not seem to be getting any solutions. She mentioned that the beds would be opened up soon, but I am reliably informed that not all of the beds will be made available. I do not know if we will also have staffing problems. The ironic thing about this is that there are SouthDoc facilities less than 50 yards down the road from the hospital.

In this day and age and with modern technology, how can this happen? Yesterday I listened to a GP who was before the Joint Committee on Health speaking about technology and using Skype for consultations instead of people having to visit the GP in person. There was a headline in the newspaper this morning which said that it could take a week to get a GP appointment. These people just want beds and care in order that their family members can have a bit of respite for themselves. The Minister of State knows that people become accustomed to their surroundings. It is not fair to send them all over the county to different beds at different times. I will give the Minister of State an example. A while ago I mentioned the closure of St. Francis Welfare Home. It was forcibly closed and the four or five remaining patients were relocated. I would say that they had all gone to their eternal rewards within 18 months because they never became accustomed to their newfound locations. That is why I brought this matter before the Minister of State today. I know she will pass the buck to the HSE but, at the same time, she is in Government. The long-term situation is that we have the facility. Will the Minister of State please get it staffed properly?

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