asked the Minister for Health if isolation units are available in each of the health board areas, if so, the number of beds in each unit and their location.
Written Answers. - Hospital Isolation Units.
412.
Hospitals or units for treating persons suffering from infectious diseases, other than tuberculosis, are available in the Eastern, Mid-Western, South-Eastern, Southern and Western Health Board areas. Under an agreed arrangement, cases of infectious diseases occurring in other health board areas are sent to Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, when necessary. The details requested are as follows:—
|
Infectious Disease Hospitals and Units |
Number of beds |
|
Cherry Orchard, Dublin |
245 |
|
Vergemount, Dublin |
30 |
|
St. Nessan's, Croom, Co. Limerick |
25 |
|
New Ross, Co. Wexford |
40 |
|
St. Finbarr's, Cork |
68 |
|
Killarney, Co. Kerry |
44 |
|
Galway Regional Fever Unit |
34 |
A special national isolation unit is available at Cherry Orchard Hospital for cases of the rarer and highly infectious diseases, for example, smallpox, marburg disease and lassa fever.
In addition to the hospitals or units which are provided specifically for the treatment of infectious diseases, most large general hospitals have isolation facilities for patients and all the general hospitals being built or planned will have similar facilities.