asked the Minister for Health if he will appoint a paediatrician to and establish a paediatric unit in Wexford County Hospital.
Written Answers. - County Wexford Paediatric Unit.
617.
Comhairle na nOspidéal have approved in principle the appointment of a consultant paediatrician to Wexford County Hospital. However, to assist in its consideration of whether formal approval to the appointment should be granted, the comhairle requested clarification from the board concerning the availability of paediatric beds to enable the proposed appointee to function.
In the present difficult budgetary situation the limited development which is currently being planned for the hospital must be confined to those services which are most urgently needed i.e. surgical beds and ancillary facilities and because of this it is not envisaged that a paediatric unit will be established at Wexford in the medium term.
Paediatric services are however available at Ardkeen Hospital where there are two paediatricians and from where this service is organised on a regional basis.