Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Senator the Government remains fully committed to improving patient services and ensuring patient-centred care across the country. That commitment can be seen in the unprecedented level of new resources the Government has provided to the HSE over the past three years. This investment is benefiting a huge number of patients accessing care and will ensure hospitals can continue to develop the services they provide, including in the mid-west region. In the context of dialysis services at Ennis General Hospital, the University of Limerick, UL, Hospitals Group has advised that patients from County Clare currently receive their care either in the renal department at UHL or in UHL’s satellite centre, which is located on the Dock Road in Limerick city. However, the UL Hospitals Group is fully aware of the need for the establishment of a kidney dialysis service in Ennis. In that regard, it has advised the Department of Health that a tender specification document for a dialysis service in Ennis is being finalised. This tender document will be issued to the HSE’s national procurement office in the near future. The UL Hospitals Group is seeking to establish a contract for the provision of a haemodialysis service with a suitably qualified renal provider for a contracted satellite haemodialysis unit service in Ennis. This would be similar to the existing satellite service on the Dock Road in Limerick.

It is envisaged that a designated consultant nephrologist from the renal unit at UHL would provide overall clinical governance for the Ennis service and that the new satellite facility would provide the following services: consultant-directed medical care for chronic haemodialysis patients; haemodialysis delivered-supervised by nurses and care with regular consultant-led reviews; regular dietetic review and support; other clinical supports as required, such as pharmacy services; and administrative support.

As the Senator will appreciate, the development of the unit in Ennis would allow patients to benefit from better quality of life by being able to avail of treatments closer to home. The development of this unit would also help to ease pressure on the renal department at UHL and on the existing satellite unit. Although work is under way to progress the development of dialysis services at Ennis General Hospital, this work is at an early stage and will be subject to the HSE’s procurement process. The Department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the UL Hospitals Group and the mid-west region in general are fully supported in the delivery of healthcare services.

I take on board what the Senator stated with regard to the timeline. The HSE already has a blueprint in the form of the satellite unit on the Dock Road. As stated, the clinical governance will be provided by UHL. We now need to know the timeline for delivery and the ring-fencing of the funding in order to put a team in place. In addition, we need to know when the tender and procurement processes will open up in order that those who can provide the satellite service are given the opportunity to do so and that the pressure on the people on whose behalf the Senator is advocating will be relieved.