Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Healy-Rae, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, for the opportunity to update the House on this very important matter.

First, I want to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the staff of University Hospital Kerry, UHK, in the provision of services during the Covid-19 emergency and in managing many difficult cases presenting in very challenging circumstances. These challenges have continued to hamper UHK’s efforts to provide safe, timely and effective care for its patients. At certain periods, elective surgeries have had to be cancelled, high numbers of patients have been recorded on trolleys and staff shortages have been ongoing.

Direct action has been taken since September to address these issues. As an immediate response, the South/South West Hospital Group interim chief operations officer has been onsite at the hospital directly supporting management and clinicians, initially on a two days a week commitment. This process has focused on identifying delays as well as solutions within UHK patient flow streams. Furthermore, the HSE has confirmed that the South/South West Hospital Group management team are also providing support to the various members of the UHK management team on an ongoing basis. The national director for acute operations and members of the South/South West Hospital Group management team also met with the executive management board of UHK, clinical directors, representatives of the consultant group and other key stakeholders in November 2021 in UHK to discuss the challenges facing the hospital.

A HSE review team was established comprising members from HSE acute operations, the special delivery unit, the national integrated care programme for older persons and representatives from the South/South West Hospital Group, and it has been asked to report on its findings. As part of its work, the HSE review team was on site in UHK and engaged with stakeholders in the hospital. I am pleased to confirm that the report, which is to set out the priorities and related critical dependencies, has been completed and its recommendations are being considered at a local level.

Two further measures being undertaken by the South/South West Hospital Group are also worth noting at this point. First, a health planning process, which is being overseen by a steering group comprising key stakeholders, is nearing completion. This report examines current and future infrastructural capacity requirements over the next 15 years and will align future investment with evidence of demand factors. Second, the South/South West Hospital Group has also engaged the expertise of an external consultancy group to assist with the development of a strategic plan. All staff have had the opportunity to have their say and I look forward to watching these developments.

The Deputy also raised several other issues and I will bring them back directly to the Minister today.

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