Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have two and a half minutes of questions and I ask the Minister to afford me two and a half minutes of answers. I ask him to forward in writing any answers he cannot provide now. Three weeks ago, I asked him about congregated settings and Bantry General Hospital. I thank him for the answers which were furnished to me this morning.

A little bit of clarity is needed on congregated settings. Was a risk assessment on infection control carried out before the statutory instrument was signed in July 2016? If so, will he supply that assessment to me? The Minister failed to answer my question on whether all community hospitals, such as Clonakilty Community Hospital, will be brought up to standard by the extended date of January 2021. Will the deadline in that regard be met? In the context of Covid-19, does the Minister accept that the statutory instrument which resulted in the date for community hospitals to be brought up to standard being pushed out has cost lives? I am asking that question in light of answers I received from representatives of HIQA at the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response.

On Bantry General Hospital, I am still awaiting answers to questions I asked on the last occasion I spoke to the Minister. If someone in Bantry or elsewhere in west Cork suffers a trauma, is there a policy whereby an ambulance will only take that person to Cork University Hospital, CUH? Are ambulances bypassing Bantry General Hospital? I indicated that may be the case on the previous occasion I spoke to the Minister. I told him about an 89 year old lady from Bantry who had a broken pelvis and whose family, when they contacted the ambulance service, were told that she had to go to CUH at 10 a.m. However, the family refused and instead took her directly to Bantry General Hospital. Thankfully, she is being well cared for and looked after there. The Minister told me he would provide an answer to that question. I would appreciate receiving it.

Are there plans to replace the current anaesthetist at the hospital, who is due to retire within the next year, and recruit a second full-time anaesthetist to ensure the hospital will remain a strong and viable general hospital which plays a very important role for the large rural population of well over 80,000 people whom it serves? If the Minister tells me that anaesthetist will be hired, I will know the future of the hospital is secure.

I have always encouraged the provision of new services at Bantry General Hospital. I invite the Minister to prove his intent to keep the excellent services that exist there and add to them. For some time now, the staff of the hospital have been expressing the need for a fracture clinic. This orthopaedic facility would be invaluable for the people of west Cork. What are the plans for such a clinic in Bantry?

Has the Government sourced PPE production units in Ireland, as well as additional laboratories for Covid tests, to be used in the event of a second wave of Covid? When will CervicalCheck services be reinstated?

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