Vol. 337 No. 4
asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending immediately the three district hospitals in County Clare (about 20 beds in each) in Raheen, Ennistymon and Kilrush, so that the patients in those geriatric hospitals can be visited more frequently by their friends and be given the companionship of their neighbours.
520.
asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending urgently St. Joseph's Hospital and Edenvale Hospital, Ennis, to cater for the big increase in geriatric patients in County Clare.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.
These are matters for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. I am aware that the health board are considering recommendations for extensions or improvements at these hospitals. Any proposals regarding this matter which the health board may submit to my Department will be carefully considered in the light of the resources available to me.
521.
asked the Minister for Health if he will give immediate consideration to extending urgently the general hospital in Ennis to cater for the vastly increased population in County Clare since the hospital was built.
The development of Ennis Hospital to meet the requirement of the projected population of County Clare is under consideration with the Mid-Western Health Board.
As a first step in the planning of the development, agreement was reached between officers of my Department and the board on the specialties and bed numbers required. A project team representative of the Department and the health board was set up in July of last year and the team is now well advanced in the preparation of a planning brief for the hospital. It is anticipated that the brief should be completed before the end of this year.
A new 30-bed obstetric unit is being provided in Ennis at the St. John of God Hospital, Cahercalla. Agreement has been reached between the health board and the St. John of God Order whereby the order will make available to the board 30 maternity beds, operating theatres and a labour ward suite. The necessary construction works are now in progress at the hospital and it is expected that the unit should be available for use early next year.
In addition to the above developments my Department are at present considering proposals from the Health Board for the extension of the radiology department and the provision of new X-Ray equipment at the hospital.
522.
asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to fill the complement of staff sisters and nurses in the general hospital, Ennis, County Clare.
The recruitment of staff for the General Hospital, Ennis, is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. I understand that a competition was held recently by the Board for the filling of permanent staff nurse posts within the approved complement of Ennis General Hospital. As a result of this competition 13 permanent appointments of staff nurse have been made at the hospital and in addition a panel has been formed from which permanent staff nurse vacancies arising at the hospital during the next 12 months will be filled.
A competition to fill vacancies for ward sister posts at the hospital was also held recently by the board and the results of this competition are being processed at present.
