asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in North Mayo due to the centralisation of specialist hospital services in Castlebar; and that many medical and nursing people feel that there is an urgent need to provide similar specialist services at Ballina, with a view to facilitating patients in North Mayo and parts of Sligo within a reasonable distance of this centre; and what action he proposes to take to provide such specialist services at Ballina.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Specialist Hospital Services.
163.
Mr. O'Malley
I am aware that representations have been made to duplicate the specialist hospital services in County Mayo by the provision of surgical and other specialist facilities at Ballina District Hospital. A modern specialist hospital is a complex and most expensive organisation and it would be uneconomic to attempt to provide two such organisations in the county.
My Department is, however, at present in correspondence with Mayo County Council about appropriate improvements in the facilities at Ballina District Hospital. These involve the building of a new female medical ward which would enable the maternity accommodation at the hospital to be improved and extended. The possibility of providing extra beds for children is also being considered.
Is the Minister aware that in the long run if the services I suggest were provided a saving would be effected in my opinion and in the opinion of many medical and surgical people for that matter? At the moment, patients have to be transported from such places as Ballycastle, Ballycroy and other long distances to Castlebar, at great hardship and inconvenience to the people concerned. These people could be accommodated and minor operations, at least, could be carried out in Ballina with consequent saving on transport and other services as well.
Furthermore, may I inquire whether the Minister is aware that quite a number of people in Sligo could avail of these services if they were reorganised? Would the Minister take the necessary steps to have the whole position examined in relation to Sligo and Mayo so as to, perhaps, embrace parts of the Sligo area as well and have these people treated in the Ballina District Hospital?
Mr. O'Malley
The development of Ballina District Hospital into a hospital providing these specialised services is, as I said in reply to the Deputy's question, a very costly undertaking. Further, it would be of doubtful value to patients. I should like to point out that the services would be split between two hospitals 24 miles apart and could not develop in a coordinated manner. The existence of two separate surgical units at Castlebar and Ballina would mean that each would be smaller than one centralised unit. Such small units are unattractive to both consultative and resident medical staff, and staffing difficulties could be expected.
I mentioned the improvements we expect to make in Ballina but I would remind the Deputy that there is provision whereby a specialist employed at the county hospital in Ballina is available, if required, to help in the treatment of patients at Ballina as well as other district hospitals in the county. When a permanent physician and gynaecologist is appointed, it is proposed to take up with the Health Authority the feasibility of having clinics conducted at Ballina Hospital by the consultant from Castlebar.
It is not today or yesterday I received this complaint about the dissatisfaction of the Ballina people, the suggestion that they were not getting a fair crack of the whip and that improvements in these services were being concentrated in Castlebar. As I have said, we are tackling the problem in a realistic manner and we are hopeful that, as a result, satisfaction will be given to the people in the Ballina area.