With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I want to share my time with Deputy Martin.
Adjournment Debate. - Cork University Hospital Cardiac Unit.
That is satisfactory and agreed.
I thank you for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. There is major concern about the waiting period for appointments for cardiac procedures in Cork University Hospital. I am aware of people who are waiting over seven months for an angiogram while the cardiac laboratory in Cork University Hospital only operates on a three day week basis. The Minister for Health needs to provide adequate funding immediately to allow the facility in Cork University Hospital to operate on a full-time basis.
Patients have died while waiting for angioplasts and angiograms in the Southern Health Board area. In 1996 over £0.6 million was spent on providing a new cardiac catheterization laboratory at the hospital and a significant amount of this money was raised in voluntary contributions. A second operating theatre and an expanded cardiac ITU service were put in place in 1994 and a second cardiac surgeon was appointed in April 1996. A second cardiologist was appointed in the past few months. However, since then neither of the two surgeons is operating to their full potential and this is as much a source of frustration to them as it is to the unfortunate people who are anxiously awaiting heart surgery.
I was amazed to learn recently that the Department of Health paid £1 million to send 100 heart patients to Belfast for open heart surgery. In addition, a further £200,000 was paid to the Blackrock Clinic, Dublin, in respect of heart surgery operations for public patients. There is no reason these operations could not have been performed in Cork and greater value for money obtained.
Cork University Hospital has submitted a tender to the Minister for Health to carry out a further 250 cardiac procedures as part of the Minister's initiative to reduce waiting lists. It is vital that the Minister should confirm as soon as possible that Cork University Hospital can commence these operations and that adequate funding will be provided. It is demoralising for staff and patients to have a fully equipped modern unit which is incapable of operating to its potential because of lack of resources. The Minister must act without delay to provide sufficient funding to Cork University Hospital to allow the cardiac unit realise its full potential. My concern is for the patients in the Southern Health Board area and the wider Munster region who are experiencing unnecessary delays in appointments for cardiac procedures.
On a personal note, as one who had a by-pass at the hospital, I know of the anxieties of patients and their families who are awaiting this operation.I strongly appeal to the Minister to ensure that the necessary resources are put in place because families and relatives come to us regularly to tell us of the cancellation of operations and angiograms. This is unsatisfactory for the reasons I have outlined.
I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me the opportunity to support Deputy Wallace in raising this issue of the cardiac unit at Cork University Hospital. The delays are unacceptable and there is an urgent need for additional resources.
Many people have been well served by the existing services at the hospital, many lives have been saved and the quality of life has been improved for many people. However, it is unacceptable that a vital lifesaving unit should be so starved of resources and that people must wait so long for procedures and appointments due to the lack of staff and resources at the cardiac unit and the hospital generally.
A number of Members and their relatives and friends have availed of the service in question. We realise the constraints under which the professionals work and recognise that service is underfunded, poorly staffed and generally unsatisfactory.It must be remembered that patients are often transferred to general wards in the immediate aftermath of operations.
I urge the Minister to take the necessary action in respect of the cardiac unit at Cork University Hospital and make available the resources that are urgently required. Such resources will save lives. We do not want people to die because they experienced long delays in obtaining appointments or in having their operations. This is a lifesaving unit and it should be given top priority by the Government.
Between 1994 and 1995, the Department made substantial funding available to Cork University Hospital in respect of its ICU-cardiac services development. As a result of this investment, a second cardiac surgeon, a second cardiologist and a total of 67 support staff were appointed between 1994 and 1996. At the beginning of this year, the Southern Health Board confirmed it would perform an additional 150 cardiac procedures during 1997. This will bring its agreed activity level for this speciality in 1997 to a total of 400 procedures. In the first quarter of 1997, I have been advised by the board that activity levels for cardiac procedures are up by almost 50 per cent on the equivalent period in 1996 and it is confident the agreed targets for 1997 will be achieved. I am satisfied this additional activity will impact positively on waiting lists for cardiac procedures.
On a general point, while cardiac surgery services have been developed and enhanced in recent years at both the Mater and Cork University Hospitals, I am keenly aware the demand for these services has continued to increase in the interim. With this in mind, a thorough examination of service needs has been carried out to ensure the service is delivered in the most efficient and effective manner with patient care a priority. An option appraisal group has been established in the Department which is currently assessing proposals for four hospitals in respect of the further development of cardiac surgery services.The four hospitals chosen all have merits in favour of locating the service on their campus. The group has been asked to look carefully at the case for locating the service on each of these sites. It is envisaged that cardiac service throughout will be increased nationally by 500 cases per annum.
The Minister looks forward to receiving the report of the option appraisal group which will be presented to him in the coming weeks. The question of additional cardiac procedures at Cork University Hospital will be determined in the light of this report.