Waterford News & Star

Tim Ryan, Correspondent

Concern at lack of 24-7 cardiology service

The lack of a full 24-7 cardiology service in the south-east was raised in the Dáil by Sinn Féin Deputy .

He told the Taoiseach that Dr. Niall Herity was appointed to carry out an independent review of cardiac services there. “He did that work and reported on it,” he said. “Astonishingly, he recommended that all emergency cardiac services in the south-east would cease. The Minister for Health has said he will not implement that recommendation subject to a national review. I have put down several parliamentary questions to him. I have contacted the Minister several times. He is still not in a position to tell us when the national review will take place, who will do it, whether it will be independent, if it will be a departmental review and what will be its terms of reference.”

Deputy Cullinane said the Taoiseach knew it is a very difficult, emotional issue for people in the south-east, which is the only region that does not have full 24-7 cardiology services. “Can the Taoiseach tell me when the review will take place, who will carry it out and when its work will be completed,” he asked.

In reply, the Taoiseach said he could not tell the Deputy but would find out for him.

Coffey condemns bed closures

The recent announcement by the HSE in Waterford of the temporary closure of more than 16 beds in the Sacred Heart unit at Dungarvan Community Hospital was unacceptable, Senator Paudie Coffey told the Seanad.

This is a hospital for older people where beds are provided for step-down, respite and rehabilitation, with some long-stay beds, he said. “It puts pressure on our acute services and, in fact, we need more step-down and respite beds,” he said. “The reason given by the HSE for this temporary closure is nursing staff shortages and the difficulty in recruiting nurses, not only in this sector but right across the health services in the State. Eight nurses are required to reopen the Sacred Heart unit and I know the hospital is actively advertising for them. This will have a knock-on impact on acute services in University Hospital Waterford where step- down beds are no longer available. Patients will then be retained in the hospital and it will add to the waiting lists.”

Senator Coffey asked the Leader, Senator to invite the Minister for Health to the House to outline the HSE's plans to recruit nursing staff urgently to alleviate these pressures.

Senator Coffey went on to say that recruitment difficulties are not just related to the nursing sector. “I note the recent report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills which said that only 2% of current school leavers are entering apprenticeships,” he said. “When a comparison is drawn with the likes of Germany, where 60% of school leavers enter an apprenticeship programme to look at earn and learn options, it is clear that it should be a concern to us all that there are not enough apprentices to meet the growing needs of our economy. Not all school leavers are academic and this can be seen in the numbers of students dropping out of various third level programmes.”

Cullinane seeks progress on technological universities

An update on the progress on the establishment of the technological universities was sought in the Dáil by Waterford Sinn Féin Deputy David Cullinane.

“The Minister for Education and Skills knows that institutes of technology across the country want legislative certainty to allow them to proceed,” he said. “Will either the Taoiseach or the Minister for Education and Skills who is present explain to the Dáil when exactly the matter will be resolved because we are coming under pressure from the presidents of institutes of technology across the State who want to know what is happening, when it will happen and when they can proceed?”

Deputy Cullinane said the last time he raised the matter with the Minister for Education and Skills he said he was engaging with stakeholders. “Has he engaged with them,” he asked. “Has the work been finished and when will we see the new legislation to advance the issue?”

In reply, Education Minister Richard Bruton said he absolutely shared the concerns of Deputies from the south-east about the need to progress the legislation but he had to make sure that when it comes back to the Dáil, the House will be in a position to proceed. “My officials have had discussions with the Teachers Union of Ireland,” he said. “That was one of the particular issues that needed to be dealt with. An agreement has been reached. I understand it will be put to a ballot. It is a very significant step forward. I hope we are now close to a position where we can proceed to the Dáil.”