Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the gradual diminution of anaesthesiology services at Mallow General Hospital to the point where surgical lists have been significantly reduced and the sustainability of services and maintenance of activity levels within the hospital is at risk. [35350/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This government has invested significantly in Mallow General Hospital. The Deputy will be aware that this government has added 34 additional beds increasing capacity from 37 beds to 71 beds. A further 24 beds are also planned under the Bed Capacity Expansion Plan.

In 2019, Mallow had a budget of €19.9m, this government has increased the budget for Mallow to €31.7m in 2024, meaning its budget has grown by €11.8m in 5 years. Staffing at the hospital has also grown, by 40% since the end of December 2019, from 252 to 353 at the end of August 2024.

I acknowledge that there are vacant posts in anaesthetic services at Mallow. However, the HSE have advised me that there has been no change to the provision of anaesthetic services provided at Mallow since 2021.

The anaesthetic service at Mallow General Hospital is provided Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm, by a Consultant Anaesthetist, employed by Mallow General Hospital who also provides services at Cork University Hospital. On the days the consultant employed by Mallow is working in CUH, additional consultant anaesthetic input is provided on an agency basis to Mallow, utilising the funding for the 1.5 WTE posts. This is in addition to their contractual commitments to the hospital that employs them.

The HSE has further advised me that the HSE South West commenced a Strategic Clinical Speciality Review of all clinical specialties including anaesthetics as part of an ‘Integrated Health Programme Review’. This strategic review will be completed by year end December 2024.