FG pledges to halt hospital downgrade

FINE GAEL has pledged to halt the transfer of services from an orthopaedic hospital on Cork’s northside.

The party’s health spokesman, Dr James Reilly, gave the commitment yesterday following contact with local city councillor, and Cork North Central Fine Gael candidate, Cllr Dara Murphy.

Mr Murphy said the pledge is not based on Mr Reilly becoming Minister for Health, but simply on Fine Gael being in Government.

“It is an absolute cast-iron guarantee. James Reilly has made this commitment to me personally,” Cllr Murphy said.

Under the HSE’s reconfiguration plan for the south all orthopaedic services at Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital in Gurranabraher are to be transferred to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) in the city.

Planning permission has already been granted for new operating theatres at SIVUH and the HSE has said it hopes to have the transfer completed by the end of this year.

But Dr Reilly said the plans should be suspended pending the election of a new government at which point the entire transfer plan would be reviewed.

He set out four reasons why the services should be retained at St Mary’s:

- The clinical outcomes were better at St Mary’s due to the very low infection rate.

- The move to the South Infirmary would reduce the available beds from 125 to 80 — a 36% decrease.

- The South Infirmary is on a cramped city centre site whilst St Mary’s has 30 acres of space on which to expand.

- Instead of downsizing St Mary’s, child and family services, ambulance services and community health services should be there.