John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise two issues with the Leader. When is it proposed to hold a debate on care of the elderly, which debate has been sought for some time? The Leader has indicated he is amenable to having such a debate. Would it be possible to have it before the Houses rises for the summer? Senator McFadden, other Senators and I have raised in this House the issue of the Health Information and Quality Authority standards for nursing homes, which standards are being imposed on supported care homes, which are not and were never intended or designed to be nursing homes. This is a serious issue on which I believe we should have a discussion. There are a number of these homes throughout the country, several of which are located in my constituency. These homes are drawing up budgets with a view to keeping their doors open and need as soon as possible a decision in regard to the imposition of nursing home standards on supported care homes, which are not full time nursing care homes and as such these standards should never have been applied.

I ask also that the Leader provide time for a further discussion on health before the Houses rises for the summer, in particular the provision of public health services across the regions. The Government has decided not to publish the recently completed report in relation to the realignment of services in the south east. Despite this, it announced two weeks ago, through the HSE, that Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital in County Kilkenny is to have its budget halved and the number of joint replacement operations, the hospital's main function, are to be halved between now and the end of the year. Also, the number of beds at the hospital are to be cut from 51 to 31 between now and the end of the year. It is believed - this too is my belief - that this is the thin end of the wedge for Kilcreene hospital, which is a shocking statement in respect of a facility that provides much needed public health services for the south-eastern region and is a shining light in terms of how our medical services should be run into the future. Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital has been a huge success in terms of the work it undertakes. I would like to see that hospital continue in operation into the future.