asked the Minister for Health if he has given final approval for the construction of a new general hospital in Castlebar, County Mayo; the date on which such approval was given; if the Working Party on General Nursing have made their final submission in relation to the inclusion of a nurses training school within the hospital; if he will supply details of the facilities to be provided; and when actual work is likely to commence.
Written Answers . - Castlebar New General Hospital .
132.
: A planning brief for the development of Castlebar General Hospital was approved on 12 July 1977 and the detailed planning of the hospital is now being undertaken by a design team of architects, consulting engineers and quantity surveyors. The working party on general nursing has not yet reported.
A total of 341 beds will be provided on the developed hospital in the following specialties:—General Medicine (including geriatric assessment); General Surgery; Obstetrics; Gynaecology; Paediatrics; Intensive Care/Coronary Care; Acute Psychiatry.
A full range of ancillary services such as casualty, X-ray, pathology, isolation and hostel facilities will also be provided.
It is expected that construction work will commence early in 1980.