David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last Friday, at University Hospital Waterford, a number of cancer patients who were preparing for surgery were, unfortunately, sent home because critical care at the hospital had reached capacity and was at crisis point, according to those who work there. I am sure the Minister of State appreciates that when somebody has cancer, it is a traumatic event for the person and his or her family. When preparing for major surgery as a consequence of the illness, one has to build oneself up psychologically and physically. Stephen was one of five patients who turned up for surgery on the day. He was with his wife and was preparing for what he saw as major surgery. He was initially told he would be kept at the hospital for a minimum of six days but then that he would have to go home and have his appointment rescheduled. I contacted the hospital management the next day and was told it had happened because the hospital simply does not have enough critical beds. A high number of trauma cases at the time meant people in the critical beds because of their illness could not be stepped down into other beds at the hospital. As a result, not enough critical beds and surgeons were available to do the necessary surgery.

The problem happens frequently at the hospital but it is not good enough that patients are treated in this way. Stephen, whom I met last week, was complimentary of the staff and management and did not blame any individual, whether those who work in politics or at the hospital. Rather, he pointed out we need to treat people with dignity and respect and that hospitals should have the capacity they need. He did so because he does not want others to go through the trauma of what he and his wife went through, having built himself up emotionally, psychologically and physically, before going home and feeling - in his words - deflated because of what had happened. He will now have to experience all those feelings again whenever his appointment is rescheduled.

We all accept that such events can happen in hospitals and there is never certainty when one is scheduled for any surgery. Nevertheless, I am sure we would all accept that a cancer patient, who must go through the trauma associated with that illness, should be prioritised. That the problem is happening on a more frequent basis suggests that it is systemic and needs to be resolved. I have spoken with the Minister of State several times about the wonderful staff at the hospital, as well as about the lack of capacity throughout the health services. He is aware of the need for additional cardiac and neurological services, the high wait times for ear, nose and throat services and all the other issues that need to be sorted out. When not enough critical beds are available for older people who have cancer, and when people who need surgery do not receive it when needed, it is a poor state of affairs. The issue is not down to the wonderful staff at the hospital but rather to the lack of capacity.

Will the Minister of State raise the matter with the Minister for Health and revert to me to indicate when the appointments of the patients who were told to go home will be rescheduled? They should be notified quickly and prioritised. Will additional capacity be provided at the hospital to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future?

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