asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the serious overcrowding at the County Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly; and the steps he proposes to take to alleviate the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Hospital.
24.
The hospital in-patient statistics for 1973, which are the latest ones available to my Department, do not indicate that there is serious overcrowding in Tullamore County Hospital. For instance, the total number of beds in the hospital is 127 and the average daily occupancy during 1973 was 107. However, I understand that some overcrowding occurs from time to time in the medical and maternity wards. I am informed that measures to improve the situation are being considered by the Midland Health Board at present.
Is the Minister aware that in the maternity section quite a number of patients were accommodated in the corridor? A similar situation arises in regard to the medical section and——
A question, please, Deputy.
——even though the figures given would indicate that the total average number of 107 might seem to be normal, would the Minister agree that on occasion there is serious overcrowding especially in the two sections I mentioned?
What the Deputy says is correct. There appears to be overcrowding at various times during the year in the medical and maternity sections. I am informed by the health board that they are considering the possibility of using a private nursing home in Tullamore and the possibility of referring patients to Portlaoise Hospital.
Would the Minister be in a position to elaborate somewhat on the position in regard to the nursing home he mentioned?
I cannot elaborate. I am informed that the possibility of using beds in private hospitals is at present being examined by the Midland Health Board.
Do I understand the Minister aright as saying he is basing his reply on 1973 figures?
Yes.
I do not know if Deputy Enright is satisfied with that. Surely the question applies to February, 1975?
Those are the latest figures I have.
Surely the Minister will agree they cannot be very relevant to the situation at the moment.
I agree they are somewhat out of date but that is the latest information I and my Department have. I will inquire from the health board to see what the up-to-date situation is but, as far as I am aware, it is better than it was in 1973. What I have given is the latest information I got from the health board.
The Minister can be assured that Deputy Connolly and I propose to visit the hospital shortly and we will bring him up to date on the position.
Will the Deputy let me know when he is going and I shall try to get there before him?
Question No. 25.
May I ask one short final supplementary?
I have allowed the Deputy a great deal of latitude.
I am grateful to the Chair, but I would ask the Minister if some of his staff visited the hospital within the last week——
That seems to be a separate question.
——and if, on their visit, they found the hospital was overcrowded.
I have called Question No. 25.