Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the issue of health care in Louth. The Government has a policy of investment and reform in our health services and that is a policy I endorse. I want to see a world-class health service and I want to see Louth benefit from that service.

While the population of the State has increased by around 16% over the past ten years, the increase in Louth has been in the order of 20%. When we factor in that much of the environs of Drogheda are in Meath, the population increase is even more notable. The population of that county has increased by almost half since 1996 and this too impacts on health services in Louth.

We need to see a full range of health facilities in Louth County Hospital and in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, though I fully acknowledge the progress that has been made since 1997. In Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, staff numbers have increased by 47%, the number of casualty cases dealt with has risen by 30%, and day cases have increased by 108%. This was made possible with a more than four-fold increase in funding over the period. Since 1997 at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, staff levels have increased by 44% and day cases have increased by 132%. This was possible due to significant increases in resources. However, there remains a need to expand services in Louth. For example, I would like to see the provision of the new accident and emergency extension in Drogheda being accelerated.

While there have been significant improvements in accident and emergency wards around the country, the accident and emergency service in Drogheda continues to lag behind and there are frequent complaints about waiting times for people in need of those facilities. I know there are also plans for a new regional hospital in the future but that is some way off. We want to see more progress now in the existing hospitals.

There are great plans to expand primary care in Ardee, Drogheda and Dundalk and I want to see the provision of these services speeded up. There is concern that the Health Service Executive may be inclined to reconfigure services in the years ahead and I want to make it clear that any diminution in health services in Louth will be strongly opposed.

As I said, Louth is an expanding county and must see expanding health services. I hope the Minister can assure me tonight that continued investment and improvement will be at the heart of health policy in Louth.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and I thank Deputy Kirk for raising it.

The HSE established a steering group and a project group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards for patients in the north east region. The decision was taken having regard to the issues raised in the report prepared for the HSE by Teamwork Management Services, Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards — An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East.

The Teamwork report made a number of recommendations to improve patient care in the region. The report identifies the need to develop a high quality, responsive emergency and planned service, in line with international standards, by developing appropriate services as close to local populations as possible. This will be supported by a new regional hospital. In keeping with the Teamwork report the HSE intends to establish a regional accident and emergency trauma unit that will ultimately be based at the new regional hospital. The HSE advises that accident and emergency services are provided at present at Louth County Hospital by non-consultant hospital doctors with a sessional consultant commitment from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

In advance of the development of the new hospital, it is the HSE's intention over the next number of years to develop ambulance and emergency services in the North East. This will include the training of advanced paramedics and advanced nurse practitioners. It will also necessitate improving facilities and services at Drogheda, while urgent care facilities will be developed at Dundalk.

It is intended, when the new regional hospital is established, that Louth County Hospital will retain this urgent care service, providing a service to a very significant proportion of patients from Dundalk. To this end a new computed tomography scanner is being installed in Dundalk next month and will be operational shortly thereafter. Two new modular theatres will open in April and the HSE will continue to invest in Louth County Hospital to provide the best and most appropriate service to the people of the area.