Taoiseach to explore solutions to issues facing Kilkenny hospital amid ‘daily delays’

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will explore solutions to the issues facing a Kilkenny hospital amid “daily delays”, the Dáil has heard.

Carlow-Kilkenny Fianna Fáil TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere raised the issue of St. Luke’s Hospital’s oncology unit during a recent ‘Taoiseach’s Question’ session.

Deputy Cleere said: “The oncology unit for St. Luke's Hospital is currently offsite at UPMC, and has been for almost six years. 

“Since the Covid pandemic, it moved there and never moved back. Providing a safe and efficient service to the oncology patients is the most important part of the work in the oncology day ward. 

“St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny treats patients from Carlow, Kilkenny and parts of Laois and Tipperary but being offsite for many years has had a number of implications, such as lack of quick access to labs, pharmacy, charts and a resus team in the emergency department.”

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He went on to outline the delays currently being experienced at the oncology unit. 

“These are causing delays daily in the unit. Lately, there has been talk of delays for oncology patients getting started on systemic anti-cancer treatment in both Kilkenny and University Hospital Waterford. 

“I note that the UHW oncology day ward had been in UPMC Whitfield for six years and just moved back to UHW two weeks ago. 

“Being off-site impacts the unit through delays in chemotherapy delivery labs and, in turn, impacts capacity in the day ward, and so impacts the patients.”

Deputy Cleere added that having the service on-site would make it “safer and more efficient”.

He pointed out that over €1.3 million per annum is paid to UPMC in rent for the oncology unit to be off-site.

He asked whether that money could instead be used to construct a new oncology unit on-site at St. Luke’s Hospital. 

“Will the Taoiseach prioritise this with the HSE and the hospital management?”, he added. 

In response to Deputy Cleere, the Taoiseach expressed some confusion over the status of the oncology unit.

He asked: “To Deputy Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, the issue is that it is offsite. Is there a project in place to bring it back onsite or are we at a greenfield situation?”

He continued by asking if there was a project proposed for the site, adding that he did not pick up on what his party colleague was saying.

Deputy Cleere subsequently provided some clarification, saying: “We have to wait for it to come back onsite. 

“We are waiting for the Dolmen Wing as well, which will free up other space.”

In response, the Taoiseach said that he agreed with Deputy Cleere regarding the advantages of the service being on-site.

Deputy Martin said: “I could not disagree with what the Deputy is saying. If you are onsite it is more seamless and faster, and better facilitates everybody working together on the situation. 

“I will explore that and see what we can do. It is a good hospital, St. Luke's, with a very good track record in many areas and always was an innovative hospital in terms of how they do things.”