Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

John McGuinness

Question:

247 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, his Department or the South-Eastern Health Board are taking to upgrade the patient facilities at Kilcreene, Kilkenny in relation to kitchens, toilets, bathroom and shower facilities; if his Department will seek a report from the board regarding the structural condition of St. Joseph's ward which is now closed and the condition of the interior of this wing; his views on whether the closure of this wing represents value for money to the taxpayer; if he will encourage the board to consider re-opening the wing and allowing it to be used as an outreach facility for St. Luke's Kilkenny and the Regional Hospital, Waterford; and if he will seek a report from the board regarding the consultants use of the facilities at Kilcreene. [6130/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The delivery of acute hospital services at the Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene, is a matter for the South-Eastern Health Board in the first instance. As the Deputy will be aware, in September 1997 the South-Eastern Health Board unanimously adopted a plan for the Kilkenny Hospital system that involves the rationalisation of all hospital services in Kilkenny city onto the St. Luke's Hospital site. This plan involves the development of existing services in St. Luke's, the addition of new specialities of acute psychiatry, paediatrics, geriatics – including a long-stay unit – the further development of community services and the provision of a community hospital to support the acute hospital.

A central element of this plan will involve the transfer of elective orthopaedics from Kilcreene to Waterford Regional Hospital in line with the conclusions of a major review of orthopaedic services in the region which was completed in 1992 by a joint Department of Health-Comhairle na nOspidéal expert review group.

The full implementation of the Kilkenny Hospital plan will require progress on a number of fronts, including the provision of suitable accommodation at Waterford Regional Hospital for the transfer of elective orthopaedic services there. In view of the complexities inherent in co-ordinating the implementation of the plan, a project team, involving officials, medical and nursing staff of the South-Eastern Health Board and officials of my Department has been established to draw up an implementation timetable, a priority list for the developments and to work on costings. A joint management-unions group has also been established to develop career options and to provide career guidance, advice and training, as necessary, for nurses and other staff at Kilcreene who will be affected by the impending changes.

In the meantime, elective orthopaedic procedures will continue to be performed at the hospital while this process of implementation, in consultation with all relevant interests, is under way. In this context, the South-Eastern Health Board is conscious of the ongoing maintenance needs of the hospital, pending the full transfer of services under the Kilkenny plan. It is a matter for the board to address these ongoing needs in the normal way in the context of overall funding available to them for this purpose.