asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange with the Southern Health Board for the provision of X-ray and casualty facilities for very obvious reasons in one of the Killarney hospitals, County Kerry.
Written Answers . - Killarney Hospital Facilities .
224.
: I am advised that it would be inimical to the best interests of patients to provide a casualty service such as is suggested by the Deputy in one of the Killarney hospitals. It is essential to provide such a service in a general hospital, which has available in it a comprehensive range of back up consultant services including X-ray and pathology. The Deputy will be aware that such service is available in Tralee General Hospital which is only about 20 miles from Killarney. Furthermore the new General Hospital, which will be equipped to the highest standards, will be available in January 1984 and to duplicate all or any of the facilities being provided there at this time would be an unwarranted use of resource.