andDr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Health if, in anticipation of any project for the provision of new hospital buildings at St. James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin, he will consider providing for the creation of an extensive polyclinic at which comprehensive diagnostic and advisory care non-residential services at a consultative level could be provided in line with current practice in other countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Hospital Polyclinic.
6.
Dr. Browne
This is a matter for the board of St. James's Hospital in the first instance. As the Deputies will be aware, a range of consultant out-patient clinics is at present being held by the hospital staff. I anticipate that the development proposals for the hospital will include a major extension of consultant outpatient work. It will, however, be necessary for the board to consider this in conjunction with the overall development of the new facilities at St. James's Hospital.
Could the Minister say whether the Department would be disposed favourably to a proposal of this kind in view of the very rapidly escalating cost of general hospital beds, the chronic shortage of money and the great need for consultant services of this kind? Would the Minister be prepared to give favourable consideration to such a proposal if it was put forward by the hospital board?
I would think that the question here is whether later on it will be considered advisable to have this polyclinic in advance of the building of the hospital. I should think the answer to that would be fairly definitely yes but a decision in that direction would not be taken until the overall pattern for the use of the space and a number of beds et cetera and facilities generally would have been decided.