Results 281-300 of 1,049,274 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Josepha Madigan OR speaker:Gary Gannon OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Peadar Tóibín OR speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh OR speaker:Niall Collins)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (3 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: There is still not a single room in the hospital built, so the Minister has much larger problems than grilles.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: By the way, the main contractor still sent an invoice to the board for the €24 million.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (3 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: And still not a single room has been completed.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: 4. To ask the Minister for Health if he will act on the urgent need to upgrade and extend the HSE-owned building from which the Gurteen family practice operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39546/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: Will the Minister act on the urgent need to upgrade and extend the building from which the Gurteen family practice in County Sligo operates? I visited the practice two weeks ago. It is run by Dr. Helen Fitzsimons and was named rural practice of the year for 2024. I saw first hand the urgent need to upgrade the building. Sadly, I wish to extend my most sincere sympathy to Dr. Fitzsimons...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I join the Deputy in offering my sincere condolences to Dr. Fitzsimons, her children and the entire family on their recent bereavement. The Gurteen health centre is located in south Sligo. The centre houses a public health nursing service, a day centre for older persons and the local GP practice. Local HSE primary care management has advised that it is aware of the issue of restricted...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to hear that the process will be completed in the coming weeks and a priority application for capital funding will be put forward. When I visited the practice two weeks ago, I could see for myself the urgent need to upgrade the building. The reception area is tiny and cramped. There are three receptionists. There are wires trailing over sinks. It doubles as a kitchenette...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I will not do the topic justice here. There has been a lot of careful thinking. We will publish the report and allow everybody to look at it in the round. The Government has progressed substantially in terms of the second cath lab in Waterford University Hospital. As the Deputy will be aware, the second cath lab opened in September of last year. That was an important milestone. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: I asked a direct question about 24-7 services.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate that. We will publish the report. Let us all review it in the round.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

David Cullinane: Can the Minister not answer my question?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Michael Lowry: 2. To ask the Minister for Health his views regarding the feasibility of the proposal to extend the opening hours of the medical assessment unit at Nenagh Hospital. [39333/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Michael Lowry: Will the Minister give me his view regarding the feasibility of the proposal to extend the opening hours of the medical assessment unit at Nenagh Hospital? The idea and principle of expanding the opening hours of the medical assessment units at Nenagh and Ennis are understandable and logical. This could work if implemented properly. It would create more activity in Nenagh Hospital and mean...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the question. I support his call for ongoing investment in the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital. The unit has been providing a valuable service locally. In many cases, it is an alternative to the emergency department for GP referrals. It is currently open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last year, more than 4,000 patients were referred to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Michael Lowry: The problem is that the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital is currently staffed and available but every day, several available slots are not used. Patients are not presenting to avail of the service. Consultants, nurses and support services are assigned to the hospital but there are not enough patients to treat. That is the reality. Considering that the current hours of service...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The number of presentations does not reflect the concerns that people are bringing to the Deputy. I will share the relevant numbers. In 2021, there were 1,300 referrals. In 2022, there were 2,500 referrals. Last year, there were 4,100 referrals. This year's number will be in excess of that. Between 2021 and 2023, years for which we have the figures, there was a 300% increase in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Michael Lowry: The fact is that the front-line staff, the people in the hospital, are asking me what is the point in extending hours when the existing slots are not taken up. Consultants, nurses and everyone else are waiting around with no patients. That is the reality. There is a problem with the referrals from the GPs. The GPs obviously have good reason for not sending patients to Nenagh Hospital and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Services (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: This is probably the first conversation I have had where any Deputy has called for a reduction in healthcare service provision in a constituency. I do not think I have ever heard hospital staff calling for fewer services to be provided. We need to treat this carefully. As I said, the number of referrals is not in line with what the Deputy is hearing. The number of referrals tripled in...