asked the Minister for Health if he received any representations from the Donegal branch of the medical union to have the proposed orthopaedic unit for the north-western region sited at Letterkenny General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North-Western Orthopaedic Unit.
4.
I have received representations from the Donegal branch of the medical union to have the proposed orthopaedic unit for the North Western Health Board area sited at Letterkenny General Hospital.
The question of the provision of an orthopaedic unit for the North Western Health Board area has been considered and discussed by Comhairle na nOspidéal, the North Western Health Board and my Department. Various options as to how the unit might be provided were put forward including the possibility of having it sited at Letterkenny General Hospital.
On 21st February, 1977, the health board further considered the matter and came to the conclusion that the orthopaedic unit should be located at Sligo General Hospital and pending the provision of this unit that a temporary unit should be provided at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton.
Following further discussions with the health board, I have now approved of this proposal.
Did the Minister take into account, before sanctioning this proposal to build the unit in Sligo, the huge number on the orthopaedic waiting list from Donegal who have to travel far and have no facilities? We are awaiting a very much needed extension to Letterkenny Hospital which could easily have included this unit. Is the Minister aware that the medical profession in Donegal were unanimous in their desire to have it in Letterkenny?
I do not know what the medical union view was but as far as I can gather they wanted it in Sligo. I appreciate that people will have to travel quite long journeys but if it was sited in Letterkenny they would also have to travel long journeys down to the border of the North Western and Western Health Boards. This was a decision, after long deliberations by the health board, and I think, in all the circumstances, it was the most sensible one to be adopted.
Is the Minister satisfied to leave Donegal without orthopaedic facilities and to have the Shiel Hospital at Ballyshannon unused? A large amount of money was spent on this hospital in the past in providing proper theatre facilities and the most up to date facilities.
They have those facilities in Sligo.
We have them in Donegal being left idle.
I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that the site in Sligo will be nearer the people in Donegal than Galway where they will have to travel up to the end of 1977.
I do not want to pursue this too far but it is quite a serious matter. Is the Minister aware that the people to whom he referred, in the Sligo and Leitrim area have orthopaedic facilities and Donegal will have none? The Minister is providing facilities in both Manorhamilton and Sligo. There is a huge waiting list.
I know there is, all over the country.
They have been waiting a long time.
I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that something is beginning to be done about it. As far as Manorhamilton is concerned, operations on orthopaedic patients will continue until the unit is ready in Sligo.
When will the unit in Sligo be ready?
I am informed that it will take two years.
Question No. 5.
Will the Minister provide sufficient funds to have the unit completed in two years?
We are entering into another area now.
It is the same area, the north-west area.
Letterkenny General Hospital was the subject matter of the question, with due respect.
Orthopaedics in the north-west is the subject matter of the question, with due respect.
The Chair will decide these matters.
It is estimated that the cost will be in the region of £850,000, and as a start I am providing £100,000 for it this year.
Is that sufficient?
Question No. 5.
The way Fianna Fáil were going on, it would have been about £5 million.
No. 5, Deputy Tunney.
(Interruptions.)
Order, order, next question please.