asked the Minister for Health if he intends to endorse the decision of the South-Eastern Health Board in relation to the future of the hospitals in South Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
47.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South County Tipperary Hospital Services.
12.
asked the Minister for Health his Department's policy on the provision of health services in south County Tipperary, particularly in relation to hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
49.
asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his response to the decision of the South Eastern Health Board earlier this year to rationalise hospital facilities in south County Tipperary and to relocate acute facilities at Cashel Hospital.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 47 and 49 together.
The South Eastern Health Board at their meeting on 14 July decided to centralise acute hospital services for South Tipperary in Cashel.
I have already sought and obtained certain additional information from the board in relation to their decision. However, it is necessary for me to seek further clarification of certain aspects of the decision and I will be writing to the board shortly about these.
I am surprised that the Minister has to seek additional information before he can make up his mind about this matter. What are the Minister's views on this health board decision? Would the Minister agree with me that if he simply long fingers a decision in this regard both hospitals in south Tipperary will suffer?
I respect the decision of the South Eastern Health Board. One of the factors that influenced me is a feasibility study that was carried out showing the following financial considerations: the cost of centralising Clonmel was estimated to be in the region of £2 million, whereas the cost of the alternative transfer of St. Joseph's, Clonmel, to Cashel was estimated to be approximately £10 million.
Will the Minister for Health confirm that through the local Deputies in south Tipperary he has told the local communities there that the two hospitals will remain open as long as he is Minister and, if this is true, what allocations he is making available to the South Eastern Health Board to implement that decision?
I will be writing again to the South-Eastern Health Board. I have given no such undertaking to the Deputies for south Tipperary.
Does the Minister's statement that he respects the decision of the South Eastern Health Board mean that he endorses it at least in principle? What further clarification is he seeking, and how soon will he make a decision on the request from them?
The financial implications to which I have already referred are one of the areas that we are discussing with the South-Eastern Health Board and also the implications vis-à-vis the development in Clonmel and Kilkenny hospitals.
Is the Minister aware of the deep concern in south Tipperary at the fact that he has not yet ratified the decision of the South-Eastern Health Board? Was it his Department that carried out that feasibility study relative to the cost of transfer from Cashel or Clonmel, and is the Minister satisfied with those figures that he has announced here today?
I do not know whether that feasibility study was carried out by the South-Eastern Health Board or directly by my Department. What I am anxious to have further information on is the actual costs involved for the capital development at each hospital.
Has the Minister made the decision in relation to the type of service he proposes should exist in south Tipperary? In other words should there be an acute general hospital on one single campus? In relation to the "further information" the Minister is seeking, surely a comprehensive analysis has been discussed by the South Eastern Health Board and should be available to the Minister?
It is my belief that the medical and maternity services should not be at one location 15 miles away from the surgical facilities. I should like to point out to Deputies Howlin, Yates and Cullen who have questions in regard to this, that there are serious implications for the developments at Ardkeen and Wexford if we transfer £10 million to Cashel hospital because the amount of capital moneys is limited. The Deputy will be aware that quite a sizeable proportion of the capital moneys available to me are being spent at present in Waterford and Wexford.
Does the Minister share my view that one way or another south Tipperary should have an acute general hospital and that the most appropriate location for that combined medical, surgical and maternity unit is unquestionably Clonmel?
Certainly, I believe acute hospital facilities should be available for the people of south Tipperary but I respect the decision of the South Eastern Health Board.
Mr. Yates rose.
Deputy Yates, I want to pass on to the next question and I am sure you will respect the ruling of the Chair in these matters. However, as you have a question tabled in regard to this matter I will permit you to put a final supplementary question.
Is the Minister aware that since the health board took this decision they spent £150,000 on a development at Clonmel? When does the Minister expect to be in a position to make a decision on the matter?
My reply to the second part of the question is, when I have all the necessary information. I am aware of proposals to spend money in Clonmel but I am not aware that money has been spent there to date.