asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the anxiety of the patients and staff of Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis, County Clare, regarding the future of the hospital; and if he will allay the fears of all involved that this hospital will not be closed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ennis Hospital.
2.
The Mid-Western Health Board has approved an outline plan drawn up to implement the report "Planning for the Future" in respect of psychiatric services in the board's functional area. This plan includes proposals for the development of community based services in the County Clare area based on the north, south, east and west Clare areas with headquarters in Ennistymon, Shannon, Ennis and Kilrush, respectively. These will replace the countywide services of Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis, on a phased basis.
My Department are following up the implementation of this plan with officers of the Mid-Western Health Board. It is not proposed in this plan to close down Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis, in the immediate future. An important aspect of the plan is to provide a 40-bed psychiatric unit at Ennis General Hospital. I have noted that it is reported in the Clare Champion of 21 February 1986 that the General Secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses' Association attributed certain comments to me about the future of Ennis and Ardee psychiatric hospitals. No such statements were made by me and I very much regret the needless concern caused to the patients and staff of these hospitals.
The Minister will be aware, that since the publication of the psychiatric services report, "Planning for the Future", there have been some anxiety and concern, especially on the part of relatives and patients in the hospital and of the staff also about the future of the hospital.
A question, Deputy, please. We will make some progress if the Deputies ask questions.
May we have some assurance from the Minister that in the immediate or long term view, say in the next three to five years, there will be no change in the existing situation at Ennis?
There will indeed be change in the existing situation. I make the point that that change is needed and is on the following basis. The Mid-Western Health Board have submitted their plan for the development of the psychiatric services in County Clare. This plan was approved by the board at their meeting on 4 April last. The board decided—and I fully support their decision—to provide psychiatric services on the basis of four sectors within the county. I do not think that the Deputy would dispute that. North Clare will be sectoralised in Ennistymon, west Clare in Kilrush, east Clare in Ennis and south Clare in Shannon. As the Deputy knows, there are already day hospitals in Kilrush and Ennis. The sector HQ day hospitals would have to be rented or built in Ennistymon and in Killaloe.
The plan also provides extensive development of supervised and unsupervised hostels and high support hostels for new long stay patients. Finally, there will be a 40-bed psychiatric unit in Ennis General Hospital. All that will impact on the general delivery of services by Our Lady's Hospital in Ennis, which provides a general county service. In that framework there will be change which will be on a phased basis. I am very pleased that that health board have submitted plans which are in accordance with the "Planning for the Future" psychiatric community services which we envisage.
May we take it that the Minister will approve that plan and press ahead with its implementation and with the provision of the services in the areas which he has mentioned, before any attempt is made to close down existing services? There is a fear that some developments may take place at Ennis Hospital before the other services are provided in the various locations mentioned. The Minister will be aware that there are up to 500 patients in Ennis and there is anxiety at present about their future prospects.
A question, please, Deputy.
Could the Minister give us some indication of what the situation will be in, say, three years' time?
I never cease to marvel at the capacity of local politicians to stir it up. That is precisely what is happening here. As the Deputy knows only too well, in Kilrush, for example, there is now a day hospital and there is a supervised hospital in Kilrush. That day hospital is expected to reduce considerably the number of in-patient admissions from the west Clare area.
Admissions? I am speaking of the people already there. In Ennis there are already 500. What will be the effect on them?
That is one example. The plan is being implemented.
It is impossible to make any progress unless Question Time is conducted as it was intended to be conducted. We are having only four questions in an hour.
We will not reach Deputy Daly's second question which is No. 4 on the Order Paper.
That is correct.
He is to blame himself.
This matter can be removed to Clare and straightened out there.
I am glad to see that Deputy Carey is at last showing some interest in Ennis. He has neglected the situation there for the past three years. The Minister will be aware that the position at Kilrush has not materially affected the numbers at Ennis, where there are now 400 to 500 patients. Could the Minister give us some indication as to what the position will be like in three years' time?
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Carey should resume his seat.
Deputy Carey is now getting hot under the collar because at long last he is showing some interest in what is happening in Ennis.
You gave Deputy Daly some liberties, a Cheann Comhairle.
It is evident that Deputy Daly wishes to pursue his party's propaganda smear campaign and wants to bring this matter down to County Clare. I would like to take this opportunity of complimenting the Minister for the programme which is being followed and the very good work that is going on in Kilrush. Could he give us a date as to when the day care centres will open in Ennistymon and in Shannon?
I am very anxious to expedite the provision of that centre and I am quite prepared to provide the capital moneys to the Mid-Western Health Board to enable that work to be done. I am sure that at local level there will be considerable co-operation also. We are making very considerable progress in the psychiatric services in County Clare.
Is the Minister satisfied that he has the co-operation of the staff in Ennis for the community welfare policy he is conducting and could he say whether there are any capital projects at present being undertaken at Our Lady's Hospital in Ennis which will complete the programme he has outlined?
The answer is in the affirmative. We are anxious to upgrade the general hospital and to provide the renovations, which are absolutely essential in terms of fire precautions. As the Deputy knows, we all have become very sensitive about this issue. Hospitals which are on in years require substantial refurbishment. This is going on at present. It can be upsetting to the staff and to the patients in such hospitals while such changes are being made. I have no doubt that with co-operation the work can be done quite expeditiously. There is no cause whatsoever for concern be it in the general hospital, in Our Lady's or in St. Joseph's Hospital. There is no need for hysteria in the area.
Was the Deputy ever in Ennis in his life? He should find his way down to it.