Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

This matter follows on from where Senator Cummins left off. There is great concern in the south east and at Waterford Regional Hospital that the status of the hospital is being undermined, not by political interference but by medical interference from professionals and consultants in other hospitals. They are undermining the HSE reconfiguration attempts since 2009. This is a cause for concern. The Minister must listen to what all public representatives are saying and must take the HSE into hand. The executive seems to be operating at arm's length with little oversight by the Department. Billions of euro of taxpayers' money has been spent on health services every year. We need more transparency on this expenditure and we need the HSE to be fully accountable. It should let us know the progress of the reconfiguration and changes in the health service.

Senator Cummins has outlined the importance of Waterford Regional Hospital in servicing the populace in the south east. This area has a population of 470,000 people. A number of regional services are in place at Waterford Regional Hospital but some of them are not receiving the resources and support they deserve. One example is neurology. We are awaiting the appointment of a consultant to treat neurology patients in the south east at Waterford Regional Hospital.

Services are fragmented throughout the region. One such example is cardiology. The ridiculous situation at Waterford Regional Hospital means whether one is treated at Waterford Regional Hospital depends on the time of the day or the day of the week one has a heart attack. We do not have 24/7 cardiology services to treat emergency patients who have heart attacks. This is the case in a regional hospital servicing the population base I referred to earlier. Why is that the case? Genuine attempts have been made by management teams in the HSE to address this problem but they are being undermined. There is interference and the Minister must take stock of what we are saying.

I acknowledge that Waterford Regional Hospital has been identified as a satellite centre for cancer care. All disciplines of cancer care are at Waterford Regional Hospital except radiotherapy. This is carried out by a private service at Whitfield Clinic. Waterford city and its environs is one of the few regions in the country without a hospice to deal with end-of-life issues. A promise had been made for a 20-bed hospice but that does not go far enough. A regional hospital should have the full range of palliative care, with all the necessary support and resources. I am a politician but we should not put up with political or medical interference in achieving that. Waterford Regional Hospital is what it says on the tin - a regional hospital servicing the entire south east. It needs critical mass for successful operation. It also needs resources. I appeal to the Minister to listen to what is being said. As public representatives, we are concerned at the lack of progress by the HSE management team. There seems to be a concerted effort to undermine that progress. We must listen to the concerns of colleagues from the south east. There is a hierarchy of needs and a hierarchy of service. Surely Waterford Regional Hospital should be at the top of the hierarchy.

A final example concerns figures quoted about the levels of capital investment. A comparison between Cork University Hospital and Waterford Regional Hospital shows that in the same timeframe, €85 million was invested in Cork University Hospital while €500,000 was invested in Waterford Regional Hospital. This matter must be addressed. I acknowledge the plans for a new accident and emergency unit at Waterford Regional Hospital but it is entitled to that and deserves it. The hospital deserves a full level of services to provide for the entire south east.