asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the unrest caused by the proposed transfer of facilities from St. Joseph's TB unit, Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford to Peamount, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - TB Unit Transfer.
26.
I am informed that the South-Eastern Health Board had decided to discontinue treatment of TB cases at Ardkeen Hospital and that the board had given an undertaking that TB patients already in the hospital would not be disturbed; new TB cases, however, would in future be sent to specialist TB hospitals elsewhere.
In view of the reactions to this proposal the board considered the matter further at their meeting on 14th February, 1974. At that meeting the board again decided that the declining number of new TB cases made it advisable to provide for the acute period of treatment of new patients in the specialist TB hospitals. To meet the objections which had been expressed, however, it was decided that patients with chronic or recurring chest complaints should be able to get treatment in Waterford if they so desired. Until accommodation for such patients can be provided in Waterford as part of the reorganisation and improvement of medical beds the present accommodation at St. Joseph's unit will, therefore, continue to be used for that purpose.