Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Buttimer for placing this matter on the Adjournment, which I will take on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the limb-fitting service in St. Finbarr's Hospital falls under the remit of the acute hospital service, specifically the orthopaedic services provided by St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, part of the Cork University Hospital group. The limb-fitting clinic is held every second Tuesday at St. Finbarr's Hospital and approximately 22 to 25 clients attend each session. The clinic is run in a single storey building of modular lightweight timber construction, covering approximately 300 sq. m in area. The building was constructed approximately 30 years ago. Other services provided from the same building include a weekly footwear-fitting clinic and a community welfare clinic.

The building can be accessed either by steps or a wheelchair ramp. There are dedicated car parking spaces specifically for the building that are kept free for access, particularly during clinic times. There is also a dedicated set-down space for wheelchair users. Within the past year, new directional signs have been made to indicate the access and parking facilities more clearly for persons attending the limb-fitting clinic.

The interior of the building was redecorated two years ago and the roof covering has also been renewed in recent years. However, the HSE advises that the building has reached the end of its useful life and, given its age, work carried out on it in recent times has been for maintenance rather than improvement purposes. In light of these circumstances, the HSE advises that it has no plans to carry out further improvement work on the building.

As part of the ongoing reconfiguration of services within the southern hospitals group, the HSE has informed the Minister for Health and Children that it is examining the possibility of an alternative service delivery model in conjunction with the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. These discussions will involve the relocation of the limb-fitting clinic to an alternative site in Cork city. It is anticipated that these discussions will be concluded at the end of November.

The Minister for Health and Children and the HSE are committed to ensuring the best possible level of service for patients in the Cork area who require limb-fitting services. I will bring the Senator's comments to the Minister's attention.