Senator Phil Prendergast

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Figures support retention of South Tipp health services

Issued : Wednesday 30 December, 2009

Latest figures showing a 15% increase in births at South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH) strengthens the case for retaining all existing health services in South Tipperary, the Labour Party’s Seanad health spokeswoman Phil Prendergast has said.

The Clonmel-based senator added that admissions and referrals for other services at the hospital also increased in the past 12 months meaning mooted proposals for downgrading STGH are even less feasible than they were a year ago.

Senator Prendergast said: "The 15% increase in births at South Tipperary General Hospital in the past year meant at least 180 more mothers were cared for and gave birth in Clonmel.

"The downgrading of Nenagh hospital led to an 8% increase in general admissions to STGH and consultants are also getting referrals from north Cork. This is a new development likely to be caused by the reconfiguration of services in Cork.

"STGH also services west Waterford, so all the evidence suggests the catchment area for the hospital is expanding.

"This means any proposal to downgrade services will affect even more people than the Steering Committee considering the reconfiguration of health services in the South East is accounting for.

"The financial argument for downgrading STGH is highly questionable as it stands. Now the latest data is further evidence supporting the retention of all our existing health services.

"STGH has already managed to cut costs and increase efficiency despite the increasing pressure on its services.

"In productivity terms, STGH is a success story the HSE should be looking to. It is fast becoming the only acute hospital in county Tipperary as the filleting of services at Nenagh continues."