asked the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a general hospital in Waterford in accordance with the recommendation of the report on the outline of the future hospital system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Hospital.
2.
The report on the outline of the future hospital system—the Fitzgerald Report —recommended that Waterford city be selected as a centre for a general hospital and suggested that it be based on the existing hospital at Ardkeen. At present, the general hospital services in Waterford are provided in Ardkeen Hospital and in the County and City Infirmary. There is also a maternity hospital at Airmount. The first requirement in the further development of the hospital services in Waterford, as recommended in the Fitzgerald Report, is the close association of the services being provided by the existing hospitals. I am pleased to say that the authorities concerned have agreed to undertake joint discussions on the best means of proceeding with reorganisation and development of the hospital services in Waterford. I would hope that, as a result of these discussions, a phased programme of hospital development will be worked out for the area.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the general hospital for the south eastern region will be in Waterford?
No, the Deputy must not misunderstand what I said. The Fitzgerald Report also suggested that general hospital facilities, including a number of specialists, be provided at the Ardkeen Hospital for a larger area. No decision has yet been taken on that. We are doing what is absolutely vital in connection with all hospital development in trying to provide integration, better services at lower cost, the sharing of consultancies between hospitals in the same city or even in the same local area and the avoidance of overlapping. That is the subject of study. The question as to whether Ardkeen will have a great number of additional beds to serve the whole south eastern area has not yet been decided.
May I point out to the Minister that, if he intends to have the new Health Bill in operation by 1971, a decision must surely be made as to where general hospitals will be established. After all, it would take a lot of money and time for any hospital to conform to the recommendations of the Fitzgerald Report.
Perhaps the Deputy was not present during the earlier stages of the Health Bill when I made it clear that even, if the Fitzgerald Report had not been published, the officers of my Department and those engaged in medical services generally recognised the need for the regionalisation of the health services. The inauguration of the Health Bill in April of 1971 will not mean that in every case I will be required to make a decision on matters which require large amounts of capital. It would not be possible to make all the decisions by April, 1971. Certain decisions have been made, such as the provision of a hospital in Tralee, and on additional beds in various parts of the country, but major decisions will have to await further examination and I have also agreed to see the local authorities in the areas where there are to be major changes before making any decisions. It is unlikely that I will be able to go into the whole position by April, 1971.
I take it that the only decision that has been reached is for the integration of existing hospitals in Waterford, but may I also ask if the question of building a new hospital has yet been decided?
No decision has yet been made.