20 July 2017
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Kilgarvan TD Michael Healy-Rae this morning issued a statement calling for more investment in Cork University Hospital.
Statement:
Michael Healy-Rae TD
With regard to the IHCA(Irish Hospitals Consultants Association) launch of their pre-budget submission. I wish to highlight in the strongest possible way, the absence of the non-invasive vascular laboratory in Cork University Hospital.
There are 10 vascular surgery centres in Ireland, 8 of them have non-invasive labs, the only 2 that do not are Cork University Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital, Cork. These non-invasive labs provide vital tests for patients coming to out patient clinics, when they turn up they see a doctor, have their test, go back to the doctor for the result and the outcome/stroke plan is given, they go home, that is 1 visit .
In Cork, patients come to the clinic to see a doctor, then they go home but have a test booked in the X-Ray department at a future date, they then have a second visit for the test itself, finally, a third visit for the result and a plan. In hospitals with a non-invasive lab they have 1 visit, in the Cork hospitals the patients have to come 3 times. Think about the enormous difficulty this presents to people from area such a Caherciveen, Valentia Island and outlying areas in comparison to perhaps from Bishopstown or Ballincollig which is only a few kilometres out the road.
We desperately need a non invasive laboratory in both CUH and the Mercy Hospital in Cork, it is been talked about for years, there has been multiple plans and commitments by management to resolve it, but never translated into action and I am strongly advocating for funding to be put in place to provide this much needed service.
