Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this issue. While I could have discussed the matter during the Private Members' debate on health services, it would have been inappropriate to do so as the problem to which I refer has been ongoing for five months and is not solely related to the motion the House debated earlier.

The issue I raise relates to the Mercy University Hospital in Cork, a highly efficient institution with a significant throughput which is located in the city centre. For a number of years, the hospital has experienced a specific problem in the provision of accident and emergency services. As a result of the large number of admissions and problems arising from a lack of physical space, the hospital applied for funding for the development of a new accident and emergency department. Construction works on the new unit commenced in the summer of 2006 and were completed in January this year. While the department is now ready for use, its new equipment lies idle in its original wrapping.

An additional 25 staff are needed to run the state-of-the-art unit which will have a rapid response rehabilitation team, the first of its kind in Cork, and a multidisciplinary staff, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists. It now lies idle with its doors closed not only because of the current recruitment freeze, but because the Health Service Executive has refused to allocate funds to cover staffing costs.

Is it acceptable to approve substantial capital investment for a brand new, state-of-the-art facility attached to a busy hospital and then, on completion, announce that a staffing budget will not be made available? It is an appalling lack of foresight to proceed with a project of this nature and then refuse to staff it. Consultants, management and nursing staff are extremely frustrated at this development. The staff of Cork University Hospital are also frustrated because the new unit was built with a view to improving facilities at the Mercy University Hospital and easing pressure on Cork University Hospital. Its accident and emergency department is too small to meet current demand and has patients lying on trolleys at busy times. The lack of planning, foresight and budgetary discipline shown by the HSE means a brand new facility elsewhere in Cork cannot be opened.

It is not acceptable for the Government, which has ultimate responsibility for health care, to allow the HSE decide not to open a fantastic new facility and thereby create a white elephant. The unit, which was supposed to open in September to cater for 30,000 accident and emergency patients per annum, lies idle.

If, as I expect, I receive a standard ministerial reply, I ask the Minister of State to at least convey to the Minister for Health and Children the frustration felt by management, consultants and staff at the Mercy University Hospital Cork who worked so hard to have this capital project completed.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I will reply to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

There are three accident and emergency departments in Cork city located at Cork University Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, respectively. These units are cross-covered by a team of five consultants in emergency medicine.

Funding of €4.7 million for the provision of a new accident and emergency department at the Mercy University Hospital was included in the HSE's capital plan for 2006-2010. Building works on the new accident and emergency department commenced in June 2006 and were completed on schedule in January this year. The work of equipping and commissioning the new facility subsequently commenced and this process is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

At Mercy University Hospital the existing accident and emergency facility caters for up to 25,000 admissions every year in the city centre, while the new unit will have the capacity to cater for 30,000 patients per annum. The work of the existing accident and emergency department is underpinned by close working relationships with physiotherapists, a social worker, an occupational therapist, a radiographer, a pharmacist and other support services, including chaplains, security and housekeeping staff.

The new department consists of a large patient waiting area with a separate paediatric waiting area, a triage area, three-bay minor treatment area, ten-bay major treatment area, two-bay resuscitation room with adjacent x-ray suite and a treatment and therapies-procedures room. There are currently 46 whole-time equivalent staff in the existing accident and emergency department. This staffing includes 18 whole-time equivalent nurses, one whole-time equivalent consultant in emergency medicine filled by two consultants, two registrars, seven senior house officers, ward attendants, clerical staff and porters.

In January 2007, management at Mercy University Hospital submitted an application to the National Hospitals Office for an additional 24.5 whole-time equivalent staff to run the new accident and emergency department at a cost of €1.497 million. The HSE is in negotiation with the management at Mercy University Hospital on the provision of these additional staff. Discussions are also ongoing with staff in the accident and emergency department regarding the transfer from the existing department to the new department. I will relay to the Minister the frustration expressed by Deputy Coveney.