First, I wish to express my disappointment that the Minister for Health is not in the House to reply to this matter. The provision of a kidney dialysis unit at Tralee General Hospital has been on the agenda since 1985. On 15 April of that year a deputation from the Kerry branch of the Irish Kideny Association was received by the health committee of Kerry County Council Whose members gave the association its unanimous support for the provision of a dialysis unit at Tralee General Hospital. In July 1986 a deputation form the Irish kidney Association attended a meeting of the General Hospitals committee. At that meeting the deputation gave a commitment that if a decision was made to go ahead with a satellite unit at Tralee General Hospital it would collect further funds for a water filtration system and would be willing to provide money through fund-raising for replacement of equipment.
The Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association was established in October 1984 and collected £90,000 within a few months. In response to the meeting of July 1986 Mr. Christy Walsh, then programme manager of the Southern Health Board, informed the branch in March 1987 that the Department of Health had indicated that it would not be in a position to provide funds towards the running of the proposed dialysis unit. Before the 1987 general election definite commitments were made by public representatives in Kerry that a dialysis unit would be provided if Fianna Fáil was returned to power.
In April 1989 the Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association was received by the Southern Health Board in Cork where it was given further assurances and commitments regarding the provision of the dialysis unit. In June 1992 in reply to a motion at the Southern Health Board meeting, Mr. Pat Madden, acting programme manager, replied that the Department of Health had approved the setting up of a protocol team to discuss the funding of such a unit. The report of this committee , when completed, was circulated to health board members. It detailed the costs and setting up of the unit in the Ratoo Ward in Tralee General Hospital. The Protocol team estimated that the start up cost would be £351,000. Therefore, the total first year cost would be in the region of £540,000.
In July 1992 the Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association was requested by Mr. Pat Madden to raise a further £84,000 to cover the cost of the water treatment unit, to which the branch agreed. They are actively fund-raising at present and hope to make a further £20,000 from a golf classic in Dun an Óir in June.
In early November 1992 Dr. John O'Connell, then Minister for Health, gave Senator Tom Fitzgerald a verbal commitment that he would provide £140,000 in the 1993 subvention to the Southern Health Board to fund the unit. Before the November general election Dr. John O'Connell informed Deputy John O'Donoghue that the development of a dialysis service at Tralee General Hospital was included in developments for consideration for funding in the 1993 Health Estimates.
On 7 April last in this House the present Minister for Health, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in reply to a matter I raised with him, stated that his Department is currently discussing with the Southern Health Board the provision of a dialysis unit at Tralee in the context of the board's 1993 service development plans. I ask what developments have taken place since 7 April? Will the Minister indicate tonight whether the necessary funding will be provided in 1993? How long more must unfortunate dialysis patients in County Kerry wait for a service in Tralee? For many of them it is a matter of life, and death. Six patients have to travel to Cork for dialysis on a weekly basis and five patients are on home dialysis. These five patients would use the unit in Tralee if it was provided. Dialysis patients in Kerry who have to travel to devote their entire lives to dialysis, leaving home a 6 a.m. and returning at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. three days a week, with rest days in between. This situation could be changed dramatically with the provision of a unit in Tralee. Units were opened in Sligo and Letterkenny with two patients and these numbers have since grown.
Dr. Murnaghen of Cork Regional Hospital has suggested that medical cover could be arranged in co-operation with Dr. D'Arcy of Tralee General Hospital. The appointment of a nephrology senior registrar at Cork Regional Hospital would enable this to be done with supervision, with a monthly nephrology clinic at Tralee General Hospital as being part of his duties.
The Kerry branch of the Irish kidney Association has received verbal support form all public representatives in Kerry as well as written support of two Ministers for the provision of a kidney dialysis unit at Tralee. Kerry patients need this facility to stay alive. It is most unfair that they be subjected to the long journey to Cork. The Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association has £115,000 in the bank. They are prepared to provide £140,000. Surely this should be possible. I acknowledge the work of the Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association who has been heroic in its commitment to providing funds. It is an example to all voluntary groups throughout Ireland.
