Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Mercy University Hospital, Cork, is an important acute general hospital that provides a range of health services to more than 100,000 patients each year. Last year the hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary and it has unveiled an ambitious amalgamation project with the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, which is also located in Cork city. The hospital, therefore, has a bright future.

The HSE completed a new state-of the-art accident and emergency unit at the hospital 12 months ago at a cost of almost €5 million, yet tonight the unit lies idle. Staff of the hospital are doing the best they can in the difficult environment of the present accident and emergency unit, which is not equipped to a modern standard. Deputy Coveney raised this issue on the Adjournment last October but, sadly, it remains unresolved. The reason I raise the issue tonight is to exert pressure on the HSE——

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

And the Minister.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

——to treat it as a priority. In January 2007 hospital management submitted an application to the National Hospitals Office for an additional 24.5 full-time posts at a cost of almost €1.5 million. I understand the HSE originally approved €400,000 for additional staffing costs arising from the new unit but agreement has yet to be reached on the details and 16 months later no date has been set for its opening. The unit is needed not only in terms of its capacity to treat an additional 5,000 patients annually but also because of the quality facilities it will make available to patients and staff.

The HSE needs to adopt a proper project planning and management approach. When a major infrastructure project such as a new hospital unit is being planned, the focus cannot be solely on bricks and mortar. Equipping and staffing should also be addressed at the planning stage and agreed before projects commence construction. A similar issue arose previously in Cork in respect of the long-running dispute over the number of midwife posts needed in the new maternity hospital there.

Many positive developments are taking place in health services but stories such as this failure to open the new accident and emergency unit detract from the good work being done. I call on the HSE to ensure the new unit is opened without further delay and to engage with local management on the details of an acceptable agreement. I hope the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children will be able to shed light on this saga so that the facility can be opened in the coming weeks.

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

Hear, hear.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will take this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is unavoidably absent.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

She is hiding as usual.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

She is always missing.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

She is on business.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is life and death business.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is Deputy Allen going to answer or will I?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Allow the Minister of State to proceed without interruption.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Michael McGrath will be aware that the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive to have the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to have delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of services at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork. Three accident and emergency departments are located in Cork city, at Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. These units are cross-covered by a team of 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 2006-10. Building work on the new accident and emergency department was completed on schedule in January 2007 and the equipping and commissioning of the new facility was completed by the end of October 2007. The facility consists of a large patient waiting area with a separate paediatric waiting area, a triage area, a three-bay minor treatment area, a ten-bay major treatment area, a two-bay resuscitation room with adjacent X-ray suite and a treatment, therapies and procedures room. The new facility is almost four times larger than the existing unit.

Currently 46 staff are assigned to the existing accident and emergency department at an annual cost of approximately €2.5 million. The staff complement includes the equivalent of 18 full-time nurses, one full-time consultant in emergency medicine, two registrars and seven senior house officers. The functioning of the existing department is underpinned by close working relationships with physiotherapists, social workers, occupational therapists, radiographers, pharmacists and psychiatry and other support services, including chaplains, and security and housekeeping staff.

The original approval for the project included an additional revenue allocation of €400,000. I understand that in January 2007, the Mercy University Hospital submitted an application to the HSE's National Hospitals Office for an additional 24.5 full time staff for the new unit at a cost of almost € 1.5 million. The HSE has indicated that it has been engaged in negotiations with the management at the hospital on the provision of these additional staff to run the new department. In December 2007, both sides agreed to an evaluation of the staffing requirement for the new facility in an effort to advance the issue. This process is under way. As quite a few Cork Deputies are present who are obviously very interested, I want them to know I am hopeful this process will advance matters and enable the opening of this new facility to proceed.

Improving the delivery of accident and emergency services continues to be a top priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive. At national level, significant additional resources have been provided to address the problems which manifest in emergency departments. Among the developments which have taken place are additional public and private long-stay beds, additional home care packages and home help hours, major capital developments in emergency departments, the provision of acute medical assessment units and community intervention teams in Cork, Limerick and Dublin.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As well as the closure of wards, including a 30-bed ward at the Mercy University Hospital.