Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Can the Minister of State explain why the hospital or the HSE have denied all knowledge of the issues raised by Dr. Schranz when correspondence seen by Kerry's Eyenewspaper clearly shows that the hospital management was made aware of them in writing on numerous occasions as far back as August 2015? Can he assure hundreds of public patients, including cancer patients, that the scan delays issue raised by Dr. Schranz has not resulted in missed diagnosis or delayed treatment that has adversely affected an existing diagnosis? Can he assure patients that their health and welfare is not compromised because of the issues raised by Dr. Schranz? Can he confirm that, regarding the radiology department at UHK, private patients are being block-booked for scans assigned to protect public patient slots? Is this the first time the Minister has become aware of the issues raised by Dr. Schranz? What does he propose to do about it?

Having said all that, it is only right to acknowledge the work that has been carried out by management on the public-private issue I have raised in recent months about which I have concerns. My overall concern is that the HSE does not allow University Hospital Kerry to be downgraded by stealth, in other words, by not allocating adequate resources to the hospital. I do not want to see our hospital in Tralee, in County Kerry, downgraded and left to be nothing more than a glorified community hospital. I do not want that. The people of Kerry deserve better. We deserve to have a properly run and adequately resourced hospital. We have great people working in the hospital, including management, doctors and nurses who are diligent in their duty. I want them to be given adequate resources to run an excellent hospital.

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