Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to share time with Deputy Kathleen Lynch.

As the Minister of State is before us in the House I ask her to explain the actions she will take to address the substandard gynaecological services provided by Cork University Maternity Hospital. Is the Minister of State aware of local general practitioners' concerns that delays in the provision of gynaecological services are likely to result in delayed prognoses, creating a situation in which the health of women in the Cork area will be put in further danger.

Patients with cancer, and those suspected of having cancer, are enduring undue suffering and unnecessary risk due to the current situation. Correspondence I have received from a GP in the Cork area states that in a very short time some patient will suffer the terrible consequences of delayed diagnosis of cancer with a worse prognosis because of the inadequacy of the service, as currently delivered.

There is a problem in Cork at present. The problem is not in seeing the consultant which is the standard difficulty with the health service; a consultant can be seen in a short time in this area. The problem is getting the tests and whatever procedures are necessary carried out. Two theatres which are set up are lying idle. The machinery and the equipment are in place. Women are waiting at the doors of these theatres and cannot get in.

In the Minister's response I do not want to hear words such as commitment, moving forward and budgetary expenditure, rather an explanation of how we have arrived at a situation where women's lives are in danger while two theatres are lying idle, although fully equipped. Does she think this is acceptable? What timeframe will she put in place to rectify this matter? This is an ongoing problem with the HSE where project management is not being delivered. We have seen it with the maternity hospital where a state-of-the-art facility was created and lay idle for more than a year because the Department could not get the agency operational. That the same is happening in this department is unacceptable.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputy Ciarán Lynch for sharing time. From a position of having had three maternity hospitals, we now have one maternity hospital in Cork. It is about time the Minister for Health and Children came into the House and took responsibility for what is happening in our health services. I know what the Minister of State will say when she stands up.

One does not have a choice in Cork. There is one maternity facility which is, by any standard, probably one of the most modern in Europe. However, the difficulty is that what is available in that hospital is not available to the public. On 22 November 2007 I tabled a series of parliamentary questions about this issue. In every instance, the replies I received were about how good was the hospital, the number of theatres and the number of gynaecologists but what the Minister and the HSE did not say was that there are two theatres in that new facility which are chained. There are chains on the doors of the fully equipped facility but there are no staff. Neither was I told the number of women awaiting procedures.

When a GP has to write to politicians to tell them their patients' lives are being put at risk, it is a sad state of affairs. At the Joint Committee on Health and Children today I listened once again to news of a delayed inquiry into awful things that happened in our health service. Are we looking at another possible misdiagnosis in the whole area of women's health and is that what the Minister is prepared to stand over?

I have heard the Minister say on numerous occasions that this facility is one of the best hospitals in the country. Would the staff of any hotel go out and tell the outside world that the hotel was not working properly? The answer, of course, is no. We are not talking about bed and breakfast here but people's lives. The Minister has to take responsibility for the fact that the taxpayers have put in place a state-of-the-art facility. It is her job to staff it and ensure patients get the best treatment possible.

One of other answers I got in regard to the da Vinci robot was that the first procedure was carried out in September. This particular robot will continue to give a service which will ensure that patients will have very little scarring, very little invasion and will spend less time in hospitals. Is this not the way forward? What that reply did not tell us was that robot has yet to come into operation. It was an insult to be told that the consultants in this area are putting together a cohort of patients to be treated by this robot. The patients are queueing down the road. There is no need to put a cohort of patients in place, they are waiting for this treatment. The Minister has to take responsibility. It is an absolute scandal.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am taking the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

The Government is committed to the provision of high quality gynaecological services throughout the country, including in the Cork region. The gynaecology service in Cork University Hospital currently provides five gynaecology theatre slots. There were approximately 1,152 elective gynaecology procedures carried out in 2007.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is not true.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In addition, approximately 17 emergency procedures are carried out each month. There are three operating theatres in Cork University Maternity Hospital——

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, may I ask your advice?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Deputy have a point of order?

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When clear misinformation is given, how does one rectify that?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Chair is not responsible for the information given but I am sure the Deputy will find a way to deal with any difficulty she senses has arisen in the debate.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have to confirm that no misinformation was given in the House earlier nor will there be.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Sorry, misinformation has been given.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not prepared to be accused of providing misinformation.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister said in her address this evening that there are three units. Will the Minister of State please clarify that?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister of State to continue without interruption.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are three operating theatres in Cork University Maternity Hospital — one obstetric and two gynaecological theatres. The obstetric theatre is fully staffed and the hospital is currently recruiting senior nursing staff to open and lead the gynaecology theatre service. In the interim, the gynaecology procedures continue to be carried out in the main theatres in Cork University Hospital.

The HSE advises that preparations are under way for the phased opening of the gynaecology theatres in the maternity hospital. It is planned that some minor surgical procedures will be carried out there on a trial basis on Thursday, 27 March with the aim of expanding the gynaecology from the first week in April. The ultimate aim is to have the gynaecology theatre open on a five days per week basis. These developments illustrate that gynaecological services continue to be improved in Cork University Hospital.

In regard to the wider issue of cancer care, the HSE has designated Cork University Hospital as one of two cancer centres in the managed cancer control network for the HSE South. The decisions of the HSE on four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased bais. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome irrespective of geography. Professor Tom Keane took up his position as interim director of the national cancer control programme last November. Professor Keane will be engaging in detailed planning to facilitate the progressive, gradual and carefully managed transfer of services between locations over the next two years or so.

A decision on the location of gynaecological cancer services for the HSE South cancer control network will be made by Professor Keane and the national cancer control programme. The development of cancer services, and the continuing emphasis on improving cancer care, underlines the Government's commitment — which I am glad to have the opportunity to put on the record — to providing accessible and safe services for patients in the southern region.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister is not living up to that commitment.