Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, has today (Thursday) said the news that Cork City Council will not renew its contract with the private clamping company, Apcoa, in January should come as welcome news to residents and city shoppers.

Deputy Buttimer went on to implore people not to take advantage of the new arrangement and to continue to adhere to parking restrictions and guidelines where they exist.

“The contract with the private clampers currently in operation in Cork will not be renewed next year, leaving Cork City Council to rely on traffic wardens to police parking activity and possible infringements. By all accounts, a number of clamping cases that were considered to be particularly severe were being reported, so there is little doubt that people who park in the city will welcome the news that Cork is to become a user-friendly parking zone. Furthermore, there was a perception that clamping was acting as a deterrent for those coming into the city to shop so this news will hopefully have added benefits for Cork city businesses.

“The revenue collected by the traffic warden from parking fines, will now go to the Council which will act as a boost to its coffers. It is regrettable, however, that there may be job losses as a result of the fact that the private contract is not being renewed.

“In the interest of ensuring the smooth flow of traffic and keeping restricted areas as they should be, I am asking motorists to keep each other, and indeed pedestrians, in mind when parking in a driver-friendly Cork in the future.”

Posted under Cork, Infastructure, Transport

Cork South Central Fine Gael TD, Jerry Buttimer, has called on the VHI to reconsider its decision not to approve the new private hospital at City Gate, Mahon, Cork.
 
“There is a need for choice and competition in the provision of private health care services in Cork.  When the existing private hospital in Cork has plans to expand it would suggest that there is a need for more private beds.  Independent research, carried out by PWC, also shows that there are fewer private hospital beds in Cork, compared to Dublin or Galway
 
“Healthcare infrastructure has changed dramatically over the last few years; there has been a countrywide increase in the number of private hospitals and medical clinics.  We have had the construction of seven new private hospitals; the VHI has approved six of these hospitals in Dublin, Galway and Limerick.  The only private hospital which has been refused cover by the VHI is the new hospital in Cork.
 
“Cork has been left behind in the development of private health infrastructure.  The new private hospital provides an opportunity to enhance local infrastructure, giving people in Cork the same choice and competition that is available across the country.
 
“We need a clear explanation from the VHI as to why it is saying no to this progressive development in Cork.  As the largest healthcare insurer in the market the VHI has an obligation to treat people across the country equally. At the moment it seems that this is not happening.
 
“If the VHI was to approve the private hospital it would break an existing monopoly, enhance the range of healthcare services available and, crucially, create about 75 jobs. 
 
“It is not the role of the VHI to protect the interests of any one service provider.  Its role is to ensure that its members have access to a wide range of high quality health services.  The VHI must reconsider its decision which is detrimental to a range of healthcare services available in Cork.”

Posted under Cork, Cork City, Health, South East

Special Delivery Unit intent on reducing the number of people on trolleys and problems associated with in-patient waiting lists
 
Fine Gael Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the news that funding worth €429,800 has been approved for Cork University Hospital by the Special Delivery Unit, which will help to alleviate the trolley problem in its emergency department over the busy winter season.
 
“This is very positive news for Cork University Hospital, which has one of the busiest emergency departments in the country. The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) was set up by the Minister for Health, James Reilly, earlier this year, with a mission to alleviate the trolley problem in hospitals around the country. Eight hospitals – which account for 60% of the trolley figures – are being prioritised, including Cork University Hospital.
 
“The SDU has been engaging with hospital management and the HSE in a bid to tackle this problem. Now, using money originally provided for the National Treatment Purchase Fund, the SDU has approved a range of measures that should help to counteract the seasonal logjam in our emergency departments.
 
“In CUH, supports worth €429,800 have been approved which will see community support beds reinstated, extra diagnostics, nursing supports and a cardiac technician for a chest pain assessment unit. An additional ambulance will also be available from Mon to Fri from 8am to 6pm, and at the weekend from mid November to January 2012 to allow for more early discharges.
 
“These support measures which will allow for the addition of an average of 20 beds by mid November, rising to 35 in December will make a real difference to patients presenting at CUH.  Extra diagnostics which include six MRI slots, twelve ultrasounds and twenty CT scans per day will further reduce admissions and waiting times, as will the extra diagnostics to support the Acute Medical Unit.
 
“I would like to commend Minister Reilly for his work on this initiative. Similar measures have been approved for all eight hospitals that are contributing so significantly to the high number of patients on trolleys. It is up to each hospital to ensure they are keeping up with their end of the bargain by progress implementation of the HSE’s Acute Medicine Programme and ensuring that the hospital has seven day discharge rounds. I have no doubt that if everyone plays their part we can reduce our trolley numbers considerably and have more manageable hospitals during the busy winter period.”

Posted under Cork, Health, National Work