Hospital Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 December 2013

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Questions (247)

John Halligan

Question:

247. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health where critical care capacity inadequacies have been acknowledge within Waterford University Hospital resulting in the regular cancellation of elective cancer surgeries due to the lack of critical care beds, when will the shortfall be addressed by his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that WUH currently has one consultant gastroenterologist and only one colorectal surgeon on staff which is completely insufficient to meet the ongoing demand particularly where this hospital is to be a critical care centre; when the provision of additional critical care personnel will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54667/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Waterford Regional Hospital currently has 6 Intensive Care Unit beds and 4 High Dependency Unit beds. In August/September this year, the High Dependency Unit beds were closed for a number of weeks due to a shortage of staff which arose from retirements and maternity leave. These closures necessitated the deferral of some elective surgeries, including cancer surgeries, and these have since been completed.

The cancer surgery workload at Waterford Regional Hospital has increased in recent years. In view of this and other demands, consideration is being given to the expansion of the number of Intensive Care Unit beds, as well as the recruitment for a second Consultant Gastroenterologist and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, in line with the availability of resources.