Bernard Allen
Question:152 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will announce the approval to replace the neurosurgeon, the geriatrician, the biochemist and the gastroenterologist in Cork University Hospital. [13590/98]
Written Answers. - Hospital Staff.
Bernard Allen
Question:156 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has in relation to the situation whereby there were 23 staff in 1985 to deal with 135,000 specimens and in 1997 there were 25 staff to deal with 241,000 specimens in the micro-biological department of Cork University Hospital. [13594/98]
Bernard Allen
Question:157 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has in relation to the situation in Cork University Hospital whereby, in the haematology laboratories in 1985, there were 20 staff to deal with 170,000 specimens and in 1997 there were still 20 staff to deal with 368,000 samples. [13595/98]
Bernard Allen
Question:161 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will give the necessary approval for staff to deliver a 24 hour, seven day week epidural service in the Southern Health Board area. [13599/98]
Bernard Allen
Question:162 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will grant approval for the appointment of a third plastic surgeon in Cork University Hospital. [13600/98]
Bernard Allen
Question:163 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will give approval for the appointment of a third neurosurgeon at Cork University Hospital. [13601/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 156, 157, 161, 162 and 163 together.
The determination of service priorities in the areas referred to by the Deputy is a matter, in the first instance, for the Southern Health Board which has statutory responsibility for the provision of health services in Counties Cork and Kerry. Where these priorities give rise to a need for additional resources they fall to be discussed and agreed with my Department in the context of the annual Estimates and service planning process. This year I have provided in excess of £3 million in respect of additional staffing and developments for acute hospital services in the Southern Health Board area. Additional funding has been provided to the Southern Health Board for a range of developments at Cork University Hospital, including increased staffing in the areas of accident and emergency, intensive care and cardiology. Funding has also been provided for new consultant posts in oncology, cardiology and accident and emergency, all of which will have service commitments to Cork University Hospital.
The range of service improvements being put in place is clear evidence of this Government's commitment to the development of hospital services in Cork and I am committed to working with the Southern Health Board in the future to address other needs as these are identified and prioritised. With regard to the replacement posts referred to by the Deputy, I wish to advise that where the relevant documentation has been submitted by the Southern Health Board, these are being processed by my Department in accordance with normal practice.