asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a deputation of women recently appealed to Kerry County Council to make more hospital facilities available for the treatment of maternity cases, as over 400 maternity cases a year have to be treated in hospitals outside Kerry; and whether he proposes to consider an increase in the provision of maternity accommodation in the proposed new Kerry County Hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Facilities for Maternity Patients.
2.
I am aware that there is a demand for more hospital facilities for maternity patients in Kerry. Provision is being made in the plans for the proposed new hospital at Tralee for a maternity unit of 40 beds, an increase of 19 beds over the maternity unit in the existing hospital.
I should add that a part-time consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist has recently been appointed at the county hospital in Tralee and that a wholetime appointment will be made early in 1970.