asked the Minister for Health the total number of out-patient departments in hospitals in this country which have been modernised during the first nine months of this year; the form this modernisation has taken; and the number planned for modernisation for next year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Modernisation.
9.
Schemes have been completed at two hospitals and work is in progress at two further hospitals for the improvement of the facilities available for out-patients. The works include the provision of consulting examination rooms, dressing cubicles, as well as waiting accommodation and toilet facilities. Tenders have been received for a further scheme on which work should commence in the new year.
Planning for improvements at seven further hospitals is in progress and it is probable that work will be commenced in these instances next year.
10.
asked the Minister for Health the percentage of hospitals in this country equipped with adequate out-patient departments.
It is difficult to deal with this question on the mathematical basis proposed by the Deputy. I replied to a question by the Deputy on the 15th November in the course of which I indicated that the development of services at consultant out-patient level could be of great significance in reducing the demands on hospitals for acute in-patient care. Judged in relation to achieving this potential the services now provided and the way in which they are operated would fall short of the optimum in a great many cases. This is not only a question of the physical facilities which seem to be uppermost in the Deputy's mind; he may be thinking mainly of the Dublin hospital situation in this regard. Here the full solution of the accommodation problem is tied up with the reorganisation and concentration of hospital facilities into a smaller number of more appropriately sized units. For example, the new St. Vincent's Hospital has an adequately sized series of out-patient consultation suites. The interim problem of improving the physical conditions and working arrangements in the hospital out-patient departments is one which I intend to ask the regional hospital boards to tackle as a high priority.