Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of non-consultant hospital doctor, NCHD, posts in Bantry General Hospital. First, I will give an outline of my argument. Bantry General Hospital is probably one of the most unique and wonderful complexes we have in the State. It services a really rural demographic. It covers a significant rural population that increases during the summertime. There is quite poor infrastructure in regard to the road networks in the area. The next nearest hospital is in Cork city. The latter is approximately 150 km from the peninsulas, which is a significant distance to travel. The hospital also covers seven islands, which work closely with it. The hospital is situated in a unique location.

I acknowledge the amount of work that has been done in Bantry General Hospital, in particular during the past six years. We have seen the refurbishment of the medical assessment unit, costing €1.5 million. St. Joseph's unit was extended to include a theatre and recovery room. This came at a cost €2.5 million. The radiation suite was upgraded at a cost of €500,000. The laboratories and administration buildings were extended. A CT scanner was put into the hospital in 2019, costing €850,000. There is now a massive redevelopment taking place in the building of a new stroke and rehabilitation centre and endoscopy unit, which will cost €17.6 million. There has been significant investment in Bantry. It also has, for the first time ever, six full-time consultants, in addition to 300 members of staff and 17 NCHDs. Due to the success of the hospital and the capital that has gone into it, the number of NCHDs needs to be increased to 21.

Bantry General Hospital is a good-news story. It is an example of what we need to have in rural Ireland: a hospital that is well-invested in, well-maintained and well-run with consultants on the ground. The fact that there are six full-time consultants there - the first time in the history of the State that this has been the case - is a credit to the amount of work that has gone into the hospital. Due to this success and to the amount of work done and capital invested in the hospital over the past six to seven years, we now need to see an increase in the number of NCHDs to 21.

Unfortunately, the political reality is that Bantry General Hospital becomes a political football every time an issue arises, there is an election or someone wants to get media coverage. We need to talk up this hospital, particularly in the context of the management and the staff. The latter are being driven demented because the hospital is being talked down. It covers a huge geographical area, including parts of south Kerry and all of west and north Cork. It really is the focal point for medical services in that entire geographical area. It is also a major financial driver for the area. It is one of the biggest employers there. As already stated, 300 people work at the hospital. The fact that it becomes a political football, particularly at election time, is bizarre. The knock-on impact is that we find it hard to get people to come to this remote location to work. If one were to Google "Bantry General Hospital", one occasionally gets the impression that it is closing. It is anything but closing. In fact, it is going from strength to strength. It is because of the hospital's success and the developments that have taken place there that we need an in the number of NCHDs to 21. We also need to take politics out of it and support the staff and management, who do such a great job. Will a programme be put in place to enable us to increase the number of NCHDs from 17 to 21? This would have a knock-on impact in allowing this good-news story to continue and to become a great-news story.