Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Carrigy for the opportunity to provide an update on St. Joseph’s hospital, Longford and compliment him for his advocacy with the regard to the hospital.

The Government has delivered unprecedented levels of investment in our health services in recent years. There should be no doubt that investment in health has been a substantial priority for this Government. In just three years, the net core allocation for our health services increased from €17.9 billion to €22.8 billion - almost €5 billion more or a 27% increase in core funding between 2020 and 2023. That investment is clear tangible evidence of the commitment this Government has made to healthcare and healthcare reform. Enabled by this significant investment, the Government has been driving important reform initiatives working to deliver on the objectives of Sláintecare and building the capacity of our health service to address the changing needs of our growing and ageing population.

The capital plan for 2023 was published earlier this year. The plan includes the recommended funding allocation under each category, including €65 million in the equipment replacement programme. The equipment replacement programme is completed on a risk-based approach.

I can confirm that funding has been allocated under the equipment replacement programme 2023 to replace the general X-ray machine located in the radiology department at St. Joseph’s in Longford. Included in the project is the replacement of the X-ray machine and associated required infrastructure works. The HSE has confirmed the estimated timeline for completion is late quarter 4 of 2023.

Ballyminion primary care centre, PCC, has been operational since quarter 2 of 2013. Currently, primary and community healthcare services provided at this PCC, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, podiatry, social work, public health nursing services and counselling and health promotion services. Community healthcare organisation, CHO, midlands Louth Meath advises that proposals are underway to extend Ballyminion PCC. This extension would allow for the co-location of mental health and disability services in the one building.

The GP direct access to diagnostics referral pathway is also accepting referrals from general practitioners to provide radiology diagnostic scans to patients in CHO midlands Louth Meath, which facilitates access to these diagnostic scans for patients in the community setting and prevents unnecessary referrals to hospitals for these tests. Over 10,000 radiology diagnostic scans have been provided across the CHO to date in 2023 through the initiative and of these 156 were X-rays with the majority of the remaining being just over 8,000 MRI scans.

In addition, I am happy to confirm that the project to construct 43 replacement beds in a new-build facility at St. Joseph's Care Centre, Longford under the HIQA compliance programme has gone out to tender. While it is not possible at this point to provide a timeline for the construction of this facility, it is anticipated that construction will commence on this project by quarter 4 of 2023.