Small schools review and hospital trolleys
Charlie McConalogue seeks publication of the long-delayed value-for-money review of small schools and also raises trolley numbers at Letterkenny General Hospital. The Taoiseach responds that the hospital task force is examining overcrowding and staffing pressures.
When will the report on the value for money review of small schools which has been with the Government for two and a half years be published? The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, undertook to publish the report following a short review period. The number of one-teacher schools has increased fourfold since consideration of the report commenced. When will it be published in order that the House can debate it properly?
On the health reform Bill, the number of patients on trolleys in Letterkenny General Hospital stood at 40 yesterday, the highest figure since recording began, and is 28 today. A significant contributory factor in the problem is that hospitals outside large urban centres are finding it difficult to attract sufficient numbers of doctors, particularly to training schemes. For example, Letterkenny General Hospital has only six of the 16 medical registrars it should have, which makes it very difficult to deal appropriately with patients and is causing extended treatment and discharge times and problems with patients on trolleys. When will the health reform Bill and plans to ensure a proper service is delivered in hospitals be introduced? On the specific crisis in Letterkenny General Hospital, what does the Government plan to do in the meantime to ensure there will be no repeat in the coming weeks of the circumstances that arose yesterday and today when 28 and 40 patients were left on trolleys?
Comment on this
Nobody wants to see patients on trolleys in hospital corridors, which is the reason the Minister established a task force to examine the issue. The problems in a few hospitals have always been worse than in others. The position in Letterkenny General Hospital has fluctuated during the years. The task force will consider the implications for Letterkenny General hospital and other hospitals. A new agreement was reached just two weeks ago in respect of consultants' pay. Of the 380 consultant post vacancies, 180 are being filled by agency and locum consultants. It is important that appointments be made to front-line services.
The Minister for Education and Skills will publish the value for money report on small schools when she has finalised her examination of it, which will not be for some time yet.