Hospital Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Questions (739, 741, 750, 771)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

739. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital was refurbished in autumn 2012 but still has not opened, despite it being pledged for the third quarter of 2013; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the hospital has diverted funding received for the unit to other services and projects within the hospital; if he is aware that this is a most crucial yet basic service for persons with difficult to control epilepsy and there is only one other functioning unit in the country at Beaumont, which re-opened this summer having also been closed for more than nine months with many people continuing to be referred abroad for essential monitoring as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55227/13]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

741. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the level of funding that was set aside for the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital; and where this funding was redirected [55229/13]

Tom Fleming

Question:

750. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when he will open the new epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital; if funding that was received for this unit has been diverted to other services-projects within the hospital; if he will provide a specific opening date for this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55290/13]

Michael McCarthy

Question:

771. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health when the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital will be opened and available to receive patients; the reason for the delay in view of the considerable funding invested into this unit to date; when he expects recruitment of nurses and EEG technicians required to operate the unit will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55468/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 741, 750 and 771 together.

The Epilepsy National Clinical Care Programme provides for the commissioning of a Regional Epilepsy Monitoring Unit to provide accessible, comprehensive care for patients in the Southern area, particularly those with acutely unstable and disabling chronic Epilepsy.

The Executive Management Board of Cork University Hospital allocated ward 3A as a suitable location for the dedicated Epilepsy Monitoring Unit to be shared with the facility for stroke services. Funding of €140,000 was provided for the infrastructural upgrade of ward 3A and a further €217,000 was provided for the purchase of the required epilepsy monitoring equipment.

The HSE has advised that in order to commission the unit, the recruitment of additional nursing and allied health professional staff is required. Interviews for the Neurophysiology Technician posts have been completed and the HSE National Recruitment Agency is contacting successful candidates to offer contracts of employment. Recruitment of nursing staff has, I understand, been particularly challenging, but I am assured that the recruitment process is in the final stages, and candidates who were successful at interview are now being offered contracts of employment.

The HSE has advised that the Unit is now equipped and will open on the 31 March 2014.