A Chathaoirligh, thank you for accepting my motion on the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State to the House.
Bantry General Hospital is very important to the region I represent. It has a catchment area of about 65,000, and it may be the most peripheral outreach hospital in the country. It is a fantastic hospital and is relatively modern, built around 1960. A renowned surgeon ran it single handed for many years, who was a "jack of all trades" who could turn his hand to anything. May God be good to Sean Baker, who died recently. In many ways, the hospital is going from strength to strength.
Unfortunately, the current consultant surgeon is due to retire soon and there are concerns that he may not be replaced, due to the remote location of the hospital. If he is not replaced, it will have a huge effect on surgical procedures in Bantry. I am lobbying hard to get him replaced. I have been told by GPs and by other physicians in Bantry that without the consultant surgeon or a replacement, the anaesthetist will also have to go. That would have a serious knock-on effect on the medical unit.
Ironically, the Fitzgerald Report in 1968 called for outreach services in the area. I have no problem with outreach services, which are essential. An acute hospital review was carried out by the HSE, which was not published, and I am very fearful. Emergency services must be maintained at the highest level. I wrote to Professor Drumm requesting that he visit Bantry. If somebody has an accident in Bere Island, Castletownbere or in any other part of the peninsula, he or she is almost two hours from Cork University Hospital across a difficult road network.
There must be ways to reconfigure what is out there. The hospital was visited by the Taoiseach when he was Minister for Health and Children and by the current Minister. They were astounded at the modern surgical unit and equipment there. It was state of the art in 1960, and the quality of the equipment is par excellence. It is very important that this is maintained. I cannot accept any diminution of services. Many positive things have happened there. A CT scanner was eventually installed there and extra beds were provided for the rehabilitation of patients such as those who suffer from strokes or who have had extensive surgery. This hospital is vitally important for the people I represent. We cannot allow a situation to arise where the consultant surgeon is not replaced. That would mean the end of surgical procedures and would have an inevitable knock-on effect on the excellent medical unit, which would be a disaster.
I know an individual much younger than me who was working at home during his child's mid-term break from school. He complained to his wife about pains and he was rushed to Bantry General Hospital. He got a massive heart attack as he was entering the hospital. There is no way he would have made it alive to Cork in two hours. His life was saved in Bantry, where the doctors stabilised his condition. He was transferred to Cork in 48 hours and had successful open heart surgery. He is now fighting fit and back at work. This is just one example of hundreds that demonstrate the importance of maintaining this service. I hope the Minister of State has good news for me.
