Kanturk Hospital works delayed
MOYNIHAN CALLS ON HEALTH MINISTER TO INVESTIGATE MATTER
THE admission by the HSE that they are unlikely to meet the 2018 deadline for the completion of refurbishment works at Kanturk Hospital has been described as “severely disappointing” by Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan.
The Fianna Fáil deputy had raised the issue in the Dáil, asking Health Minister Simon Harris for a report on the status of the works and time-frame for their completion.
Almost €4 million had been allocated for upgrading works at the hospital to comply after the Health and Information Authority (HIQA) highlighted major flaws in operating procedures and conditions at the HSE administered facility.
In a written reply to Deputy Moynihan the HSE head of social care, Gabrielle O’Keeffe, admitted that while the works were scheduled to have been completed next year it was “unlikely this date would now be achieved”.
“This is in the context of a considerable amount of work underway in the regard to the HSE Capital Plan (2016-2021) within the Cork & Kerry community healthcare organisation,” wrote Ms O’Keeffe.
“While an exact time-line for completion of these works cannot be given at this stage, I can assure you that all community hospitals in Cork and Kerry are receiving attention and any required works will completed by the end of 2021, when new HIQA regulations come into force,” she added.
In reply Deputy Moynihan described the situation as “wholly inadequate”.
“I’m led to believe that €3.96 million has been allocated for this very important project, the purpose of which was to ensure the hospital meets new, higher HIQA standards. Yet they (the HSE) do not believe the 2018 deadline will now be met and can only commit to Kanturk meeting it by the national deadline of 2021,” said Deputy Moynihan.
He said it seemed to him that the HSE lacked the organisational capacity to deliver on a number of different infrastructural project simultaneously.
“This is wholly inadequate. If the funding is available, I do not see why the HSE cannot deliver the Kanturk project earlier,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“This is disappointing for the patients who need this upgrade. It is unfair on them and the staff at the hospital to have to wait even longer. The situation puts additional pressures on everyone in the hospital community and I believe that Minister Harris should investigate why this project is not progressing,” he added.