KERRY TD Jackie Healy-Rae has been urged to go public with the details of a deal he claims to have made with outgoing Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, regarding the future of Kerry General Hospital.
Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris said that any commitments that were given to the Independent should be published to ensure the people of the county know what to expect.
He said while the conditions at Kerry General Hospital continue to worsen, people are entitled to know if commitments were given. Deputy Ferris said there is growing concern about the continued failure to re-appoint a consultant for the accident and emergency department consultant, the closure of wards due to the lack of nursing staff and reported surgery cancellations.
Deputy Ferris said people were entitled to know if there were commitments given and if they will still stand under the helm of Brian Cowen.
“It is important that the people of Kerry are made aware of what, if any, commitments were given by the Taoiseach to Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae on the future of the hospital. Nobody, outside of the HSE spin office, denies that there are serious problems at Kerry General Hospital,” said Deputy Ferris.
He said he had been informed by Kerry General manager, Margie Lynch, that there was significant pressure on bed availability within the hospital despite the closure of the Clonfert Ward, which cost the taxpayer ¤629,000 to refurbish, because of the lack of staff.
“We hear weekly reports from the INO of large numbers of people waiting on trolleys in the A&E department,” said Deputy Ferris.
“I am not asking Deputy Healy-Rae to release his entire list but I think with the situation at our hospital being so serious that he should tell the people of Kerry what guarantees he got about Kerry General. “With Bertie Ahern’s departure next month everyone, perhaps even Deputy Healy-Rae himself, wants to know if the agreement he made with Bertie Ahern will still stand under Brian Cowen’s tenure.| the Sinn Fein TD remarked.
“Last November Deputy Healy-Rae said that he would use the retention of cancer services at Kerry General Hospital as a bargaining chip in return for his support for Mary Harney when she faced a motion of noconfidence.
“What I would like to know is; did he receive a guarantee about the retention of cancer service in return for his vote and is that guarantee being delivered?” he said.
