We now come to one minute statements. The House will now hear a one minute statement on a matter appropriate to the Minister for Health. I propose to call on Deputy Deenihan to make a one minute statement in respect of a matter he has given me notice he wishes to raise.
Adjournment Debate. - Health Matter.
The absence of an out-patients' physiotherapy facility in Tralee General Hospital, and the District Hospital, Listowel, is a source of major hardship to a large number of people in County Kerry. Over 200 patients, including orthopaedic, stroke victims, children and those who have suffered coronary disease, are all on the waiting list and there is no physiotherapy treatment available for them.
Most of these people are unable to pay for the services of a private physiotherapist because of the cost involved. This is a scandal which must be faced up to. Eighteen months ago there were eight physiotherapists operating in Tralee General Hospital, now there are four, one senior and three basic physiotherapists. To provide a proper service we need an additional senior physiotherapist and three basic physiotherapists. The in-patient service is also stretched to the limit in Tralee General Hospital.
This cannot be allowed to continue and I appeal to the Minister to make urgent representations to the Southern Health Board to do something about this scandal.
The provision of physiotherapy services at Tralee General Hospital is a matter in the first instance for the Southern Health Board. Tralee General Hospital has a physiotherapy staff complement of eight people. There are at present six full-time staff — and three staff who are job-sharing — providing physiotherapy services in the hospital.
That is not true.
These are the facts today.
There are four people——
Of these staff two members are on maternity leave, one member is on compassionate leave and one is on sick leave.
That is not the case.
Deputy Deenihan must let the Minister make his statement without interruption.
I am sorry but I cannot help it.
If the Deputy cannot listen to what the Minister has to say he has a remedy.
Due to the unfortunate combination of circumstances caused by the unavoidable temporary absence of these four staff, it has been necessary to temporarily suspend the physiotherapy out-patient service. I should like to emphasise that the difficulties are not due to any financial restriction.
The Southern Health Board are making every effort to replace the staff on leave but have not yet been successful due to the difficulty in recruiting replacement staff for short time periods. However, arrangements for an emergency service have been made. The Southern Health Board are urgently reviewing the situation with a view to restoring the service as quickly as possible. The in-patient service is not affected.
The Dáil adjourned at 11.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 21 November 1990.