Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan has accused the government of failing women in Cork who are waiting unacceptable lengths of time for gynaecological appointments.
Despite approving the business cases for the opening of a second theatre in 2017, the facility continues to lay idle.
Deputy Moynihan explained, “I have been raising this issue with the Health Minister on numerous occasions, and this week I asked the Taoiseach why the funding for the opening of the second theatre is being withheld. However, instead of answering the question he claimed it was an issue for the Health Minister.
“The situation at Cork University Maternity Hospital is completely unacceptable. The number of women waiting for surgery has almost doubled in the space of one year – from 584 in May 2018 to 1,076 at the start of June. I have met with representatives from the hospital, who are deeply frustrated and very worried about the delay to these women’s treatment.
“They have outlined the serious complications which can arise if women are forced to wait for important and necessary procedures.
“The business case for the second theatre has been made to the HSE and was approved by Minister Harris in 2017. Why is the funding delayed? Fine Gael appears to have no problem sanctioning billions of additional spending for the National Children’s Hospital and the National Broadband Plan but when it comes to women’s health in Cork, they are leaving women to languish on long waiting lists for essential gynaecological procedures”, concluded Deputy Moynihan.
