asked the Minister for Health, if he will ensure that the existing maternity unit in St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, County Kildare, is maintained and that there will be no dilution of the health services in County Kildare.
Written Answers. - Athy (Kildare) Hospital.
42.
St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, is primarily a geriatric hospital. The present four maternity beds and one isolation bed do not serve the patients' best interests. These beds are also under-utilised. All of the medical advice states that obstetric services should be concentrated in centres catering for, at the minimum 1,500 to 2,000 births/deliveries per annum and that they should have full consultant cover. Maternity units are now being located in general hospitals where they can avail of full consultant staffing in both obstetrics and paediatrics and all the other back up services found in general hospitals. Accordingly the Eastern Health Board propose to close these maternity beds at Athy with effect from 31 May 1986. However, the delivery suit and one bed will be retained for emergency cases. Ante-natal clinics will continue to be provided in the Athy area by consultant staff from Portlaoise General Hospital.
When the four maternity beds become available they will augment the geriatric assessment/rehabilitation unit and will assist the orthopaedic service in the accommodation of elderly post-operative cases.