St Patrick's Hospital and GPs
Mattie McGrath raises local health concerns in Tipperary, focusing on St Patrick's Hospital in Cashel and the need for GP cover to keep services operating. The Minister says he will look into the Cashel details with the HSE, notes increased GP training places, and says negotiations on a new GP contract are due to begin.
Of course I will. I always do, especially in this section. I want to ask a question in respect of the programme for Government and its commitment to health. There are definitely health issues in Tipperary. The Minister, Deputy Harris, who is actually present, visited Cashel some time ago and was aghast to see an empty hospital on which €25 million had been spent. Over the road, however, there is a sister hospital, St. Patrick's Hospital, which provides for old folks and geriatric care. Within that hospital, there is a wonderful assessment unit to which stroke victims, victims of accidents and so on can be brought for the exceptional care provided by the matron and the staff. On Sunday I visited a good friend of mine, a neighbour. He had been told he was going home, as were all the other patients. I did not think anything of it. I thought they were just fit to go home. They were told yesterday that, because a general practitioner, GP, cannot be acquired, no more patients are being taken into the unit and there are rumours today that it might be closed.
Comment on this
What is the Minister, Deputy Harris, going to do about GPs in the country in general? We had an excellent GP in Cashel, Dr. Ryan. He is retiring. What will the Minister do to make sure that hospital can continue to operate and to give solace to the families and patients who are there for necessary care? What will he do to ensure there will be a GP to cover that assessment unit in St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel?
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for bringing the matter of St. Patrick's Hospital in Tipperary to my attention. If he wants to furnish me with some details I will certainly talk to the HSE and then revert to him directly on the issue. On the broader issue regarding general practice, the Government has increased the number of training places for GPs. In fact there will be a significant increase on last year beginning this year.
Comment on this
We are also due to begin negotiations with GPs on a new contract in the coming days in order that we can make sure general practice is sustainable now and into the future.