Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that work is going ahead there and that there is funding there. It is, however, beyond unacceptable, at a time the pressure on all our hospitals is at its greatest, that the hospital is now faced with tightening its belt even further, with the added complication of it being unsure precisely what the impacts of the cuts will be. The year began with a total of 2,467 scheduled care cancellations and, as the year progressed, the hospital has been continuing to deal with the increase in presentations and admissions. Thankfully, however, it does not plan to close any inpatient beds due to the funding shortfall. I commend the hospital on that and on the work it has been doing. Staff did note, however, when we talked to them - and this will come as no surprise locally or to anybody else - that they have been operating at 100% capacity daily. That they are being forced to operate in that manner is unfair on them given the pressure they are under. It also poses issues for patients because it presents little room for any manoeuvre in those situations. The uncertainty with the funding just adds extra pressure that neither staff or patients should be under. Currently, the hospital has a small number of projects, which the Minister will be aware of, that are working through the capital steering process. Can I get a guarantee that those will not be affected as a result of the shortfall in funding?

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