asked the Minister for Health if, in the past week, as is suggested in a local paper in Galway city, he has altered his decision regarding the provision of further finance from his Department towards the staffing of the maternity unit at Galway regional hospital.
Written Answers. - Galway Regional Hospital.
573.
The extension to the maternity unit at Galway Regional Hospital was completed in January 1984 at a cost of £4 million. It was designed to alleviate overcrowding and poor treatment and out-patient facilities. The extension consists of a new delivery suite (eight rooms), new ward accommodation for 31 beds, a neo-natal unit of 11 cots and new out-patients (OPD), admissions and administrative departments.
Part of the delivery suite and part of the neo-natal unit were brought into use in mid 1983 by the Western Health Board by redeployment of staff. However, the board sought a total of 75 additional staff at an estimated annual revenue cost of £874,000 for the unit. I have no additional funds at my disposal to provide for the opening of this unit and the board were told that these new posts could be created only if the Board could redeploy existing posts and resources. The board were asked to examine the possibility of opening the unit on a phased basis, having regard to their priorities.
In November 1984 the Western Health Board brought the rest of the delivery suite (eight rooms in all) and the out-patients department into use by redeployment of 11.5 existing posts and resources from the fever unit and the special hospitals programme.
The unopened portion of the unit now consists of the new ward accommodation of 31 beds and the remainder of the neo-natal cots. The question of finding a basis for opening the remaining sections of the unit was raised in the course of discussions in recent weeks with the chief executive officer and his management team concerning budgetary arrangements for 1985. It was indicated to the chief executive officer that the final move in this direction must be for the board to consider and put forward concrete proposals involving the redeployment of staff and resources to the unit to the extent that this is considered feasible. The chief executive officer is to make a submission on this issue to the Department providing a detailed analysis of the position of current staff of all grades in the current unit and an update on data relating to births and other procedures. The question of making a contribution from Departmental funds to enable the unit to be fully opened, will then be considered.
I regret the protracted nature of these consultations with the Western Health Board on this issue. I am confident that the matter can be resolved in the near future with the co-operation of all concerned.