AS fears continue to mount for the future status of University Hospital Kerry, it emerged today that Health Minister, Simon Harris, is to meet with Kerry TDs and senators, hospital management and senior HSE officials in the South/South West Hospital Group to discuss the future of the facility.
Separately, the hospital has asked all Kerry Oireachtas members to attend a briefing session on Monday, November 12 to discuss a number of key issues, including capital development plans, service developments and the need to put a proper plan in place for the very busy winter period.
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae – who confirmed that Minister Harris has agreed to a meeting – said today that he has “serious concerns” over the failure to carry out hip and knee operations at the hospital and what appears to be the general downgrading of the facility on a continuous basis.
“It’s high time that such a meeting takes place as a matter of urgency. The people of Kerry deserve better and, in my opinion, they are being blackguarded by the system, being left in pain waiting for urgent operations to take place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cllr Toireasa Ferris has called for answers on the status of hip and knee replacement procedures at University Hospital Kerry.
“Despite reassurances from management that hip and knee replacements would recommend the week beginning October 15, we have been informed this has not happened. In fact we are being told there are still funding issues and it will be some time before public procedures will begin again,” she said.
“Astonishingly, while scores languish on the public list in pain, we have been informed that private patients attending a private hospital in Tralee have had the procedure carried out in University Hospital Kerry. We have sought clarity from the minister and hospital management on this,” Cllr Ferris added.
She said hospital management needs to publicly confirm if private patients have undergone this surgery in the public hospital and why they think it is acceptable and justifiable to prioritise those who can pay over those who cannot.
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