asked the Minister for Health whether, in view of the delay that may occur in general hospital reconstruction, he proposes to improve the facilities and staffing of county hospitals in the short term.
Written Answers. - County Hospitals Staffing.
107.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the needs of general hospitals, including county hospitals, are under continuous review and that improvements in facilities and staffing are regularly made.
Indeed, when moving the Estimate for my Department on 20th May last, I gave the House a fairly full account of the major ongoing developments which had taken place within the general hospital programme since the previous November.
108.
asked the Minister for Health if he will provide increased hospital accommodation and other necessary facilities for the treatment of ophthalmic complaints in the Southern Health Board region.
An additional operating theatre, to be used exclusively for ophthalmic work, has been constructed recently at the Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, Cork. This development should significantly improve the ophthalmic service for the area.
It appears that, overall, hospital accommodation for ophthalmic conditions is adequate but nonetheless waiting times are sometimes rather long. I have therefore directed that my Department should carry out a detailed survey of existing ophthalmic accommodation and facilities in hospitals throughout the country to assess the position for the different areas.