asked the Minister for Health whether any proposals were submitted to him in connection with the recent transfer of maternity and other services from Cashel County Hospital and consequent reduction of staff and facilities available to the public; whether he will indicate the reasons for the reduction of such essential services in the area; whether he sanctioned the transfer and, if so, the grounds on which he accorded his sanction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cashel County Hospital.
I received a proposal on the 31st July, 1951, from the Tipperary South Riding County Council regarding the transfer of the medical and maternity sections of the County Hospital, Cashel, to the Clonmel District Hospital.
The Cashel County Hospital contained 66 beds for surgical, medical and maternity cases. This number was found to be completely inadequate to cater for cases awaiting admission to the hospital. On the date mentioned, the local authority intimated that the waiting list for surgical beds was between 70 and 80. In addition, an orthopxdic service has been established in Tipperary and the orthopædic surgeon was severely handicapped through lack of beds. It would not be possible either to reduce the waiting list for surgical patients or to provide beds for the orthopxdic surgeon in the county hospital without reducing very severely the number of beds available for medical cases.
The local authority consequently suggested that Clonmel District Hospital should be reconstructed for use as the major county medical hospital and maternity hospital for Tipperary South Riding. The reconstructed hospital will provide accommodation for approximately 107 patients. Medical and maternity services in the hospital will be provided by the county physician. Full X-ray facilities are available.
It is not anticipated that, as a result of the transfer, there will be any reduction in the staff or in the facilities available for surgical and orthopxdic patients in the Cashel County Hospital. There will be a considerable increase in the staff and improvement in the facilities available for medical and maternity cases in the Clonmel Hospital. It is proposed to reserve a small number of beds in the County Hospital, Cashel, for urgent medical and maternity cases from the Cashel area.
The proposed transfer was sanctioned in the expectation that it would provide a more adequate and efficient service in the county.
Is it the intention of the Minister to hold to the original idea and to have the decision of the South Tipperary County Council carried out by having an extra wing erected to the existing county hospital there?
I am not sure that it will be necessary now.