asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to carry out the urgently needed extension of the County Hospital, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Hospitals.
19.
The General Hospital Development Plan provides for the development of Letterkenny General Hospital and agreement has been reached with the North-Western Health Board that this should be the priority project for the area. The detailed planning of the development by a design team is proceeding and is expected to be completed in spring, 1978. The date of commencement of building will be determined when planning is completed.
In the meantime, in order to alleviate overcrowding in the existing hospital, the health board decided to use, as a tempory measure, bed accommodation in the new 50-bed psychiatric unit at the hospital for general hospital purposes and this has been approved.
I am afraid we are still not getting very good reception here at the back of the House. I have complained about it time and time again and nothing whatever has been done about it. It is no fault of the Ministers in the front bench; we just do not get any sound from these boxes up here.
Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether he is fully aware of the severe overcrowding that takes place daily in Letterkenny hospital and which has been taking place for many years now? Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that rest rooms, television rooms and sundry rooms not intended for bed space are being so used? Additionally is he aware that daily, week in and week out, the corridors are crammed with beds in this hospital and that it is long past the time when there should have been some crash development there in an endeavour to alleviate the situation? That is no exaggeration. If one rings up today one will find there are dozens of people being accommodated in the corridors.
May I appeal for brevity in respect of Supplementary Questions?
Judging by the number of questions dealt with there would not appear to be brevity.
I am anxious to make a little more progress on other Members' questions also.
I know, I have been sitting, watching and waiting for days and the brevity certainly is never evident.
The Chair does its best.
I will make no comment on that.
20.
asked the Minister for Health whether the two existing hospitals at Ballyshannon and Donegal town were considered when the decision was taken to locate the new orthopaedic unit at Sligo; and why neither of these locations was favoured.
The question of the provision of an orthopaedic unit for the North-Western Health Board area was 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 and considered, including the use of the Shiel Hospital, Ballyshannon. A study prepared by the health board indicated that the Shiel Hospital was not considered suitable for an orthopaedic unit for a number of reasons such as the age of the buildings, the small number of beds, the general shortage of space and the scale of improvements which would really be necessary. The use of the District Hospital, Donegal was not put forward as an option; it has not adequate facilities for orthopaedic use.
I am afraid the attitude in regard to serving this board area is as evident in this case as in all others. Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is ridiculous to suggest that this new unit be placed in Sligo which, to get down to the question of mileage, is approximately 150 miles from the most northerly point of County Donegal? Surely this is ludicrous? Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the Shiel Hospital, Ballyshannon—even if it had to be enlarged to twice its present size—and/or the Donegal Hospital, which is quite a new unit, could be brought into operation for this type of patient and indeed for many other purposes in respect of which we now have to send patients all over the country? It is ludicrous— 150 odd miles from the most northerly point of Donegal to Sligo and that is regarded as a service. In fact a lot of money will be spent on its provision, allegedly serving the people of north Donegal.
I well understand the Deputy's concern in regard to this problem, but I am not a member of the health board. The report given to the Minister which I have here says that in view of the nature of the specialist services, such as orthopaedics, they should not be physically separated from a general hospital and, consequently, should be attached to Sligo General Hospital. That is the report and advice given to the Minister by the people in the North-Western Health Board.
Taking cognisance of the fact that up to now the orthopaedic service has been in Galway Regional Hospital mainly—and of course Sligo is regarded as a big improvement—might I draw the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to the fact that this does not really constitute an improvement? It is still totally inconvenient, absolutely too far removed from most of County Donegal and, much as Donegal people might deplore the idea of having to go to Dublin, it would be much more convenient for the patients, their families and visitors rather than going to Sligo, because that hospital is not suitably placed at all in this or any other regard.
I certainly appreciate the case made by the Deputy for those people. Perhaps I may say this to him, because this is what has been said by the board; the use of the Shiel Hospital was considered by the health board as a possible alternative location for the orthopaedic unit. However, because of the scale of improvements necessary, the age of the buildings, the small number of beds and general shortage of space, the hospital was not considered suitable for an orthopaedic unit.
Question No. 21.
Is it not a fact that the necessary space will have to be provided in Sligo at today's cost——
I am afraid we have to deal with another question now. Question No. 21.
The money is provided for that, Deputy.
I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to have another look at that before it is finally settled.
Perhaps the Deputy would have a talk with me about it.
Question No. 21.