Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The gynaecological waiting times in the maternity hospital in Cork have been an issue for the past few years and I have been involved in trying to reduce the waiting list for these services. The Cork University Maternity Hospital, CUMH, which was established ten years ago, is a conglomeration of three maternity hospitals, namely, the Bon Secours maternity unit, St. Finbarr's Maternity Hospital and the Erinville Hospital. It has delivered an awful lot for the people of Cork and has been a very important part of the healthcare system in the region.

On 12 January 2017, I was at a meeting with the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, in the maternity hospital in Cork where the waiting list for gynaecological services was discussed in detail. Almost every one of the 19 consultants in the maternity hospital was present. Significant issues were debated. I acknowledge and welcome the change in governance and the significant reforms since that meeting. These are very important steps.

One of the key issues to emerge from that meeting was that waiting lists are exceptionally high. They were the longest waiting lists in the country at the time. This was unacceptable. Significant measures have been put in place since then. The hospital has leased a theatre in the Mater Private Hospital in Mahon and has outsourced to the Bon Secours Hospital on Blackrock Road and has opened theatres on a Saturday, all of which is very positive. It is the first time in the history of the State that a medical centre has opened on a Saturday to carry out this kind of procedure.

Waiting times are a big issue for the people of Cork and addressing them is the biggest issue for us. We need a sustainable long-term solution. For that to happen the second gynaecology theatre in CUMH needs to be opened. The news that has come out in the past few days that it will not open in 2018 is a major issue and needs to be addressed. A commitment was given that funding would be in place to appoint five consultants over three years. This funding is in jeopardy. I need clarity on the funding of these consultants and the opening of the second gynaecology theatre. We have the physical infrastructure. We do not have to build it or look for it. We need the consultants and the people and women in Cork need the service. To have the longest waiting list in Ireland in a brand new hospital does not do the hospital or the women of Cork any service. It is a very serious issue and if it comes down to funding we need to consider that. To have a theatre sitting idle that could solve the problem if it were staffed is a huge issue for us. I hope the Minister of State can bring some clarity to this very important issue for our part of the world. If she is not in a position to do so maybe she can get me the information. Much as I welcome the Minister of State's presence, the Minister for Health or one of the line Ministers should have been here to discuss this really important issue because it is one of the biggest health issues in the region and clarity is urgently required so that we can resolve it.