Anger as hospital plans delayed again

A VOLUNTARY organisation has expressed anger and shock at the news that a long-awaited hospital project will not get funding this year.

Plans for a day procedure unit at Mallow General Hospital, in Co Cork, have been put on the long finger again, according to a letter written by Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney.

Even though she admitted the unit is considered “a priority”, she told Deputy Batt O’Keeffe it hadn’t made the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) list for funding this year. The minister added that the project will be resubmitted for funding next year.

Friends of Mallow Hospital, an organisation which has raised hundreds of thousands of euro for equipment at the hospital, has reacted angrily to the news.

Treasurer Noel O’Connor claimed that not one major building project had been carried out at the hospital for nearly a generation.

“It has been clearly indicated that Mallow General Hospital needs a day procedure unit. It would have a day theatre and endoscopy unit. We also don’t have necessary facilities for geriatric patients either,” Mr O’Connor said.

Last year, the Friends of Mallow Hospital raised more than €100,000 for new equipment for the hospital and hope to repeat that feat again this year. However, while they don’t mind giving a helping hand, those involved in the organisation feel let down by the HSE and the Government.

“On Good Friday two years ago we were promised a CT scanner. We’ve been told this will be coming in the next few months,” Mr O’Connor said.

He pointed out that the hospital serves a huge catchment area with a population in excess of 100,000. Patients come to it not only from north Cork, but from parts of Kerry, south Limerick and west Waterford.

Despite claiming a lack of support from the health authorities, Mr O’Connor said the hospital was very well run, which he proclaimed was down to the tremendous work of highly dedicated staff.

“Despite the many deficiencies we have high quality casualty and surgical units. Mallow was recently declared the cleanest hospital in the country and it has one of the shortest patient stays. We don’t have any problems with patients lying on trolleys like other hospitals,” Mr O’Connor said.

He added that Mallow had one of the smallest budgets of any general hospital in the country.

“The high quality service being provided is not being matched by support from the health services. We are angry and horrified that we didn’t make the list for 2006. We intend to make this a political issue at the next General Election,” Mr O’Connor added.