asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the acute shortage of geriatric beds in south Louth; the plans he has to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Louth Geriatric Care.
307.
The provision of geriatric beds in south Louth is a matter for the North Eastern Health Board in the first instance.
Although the board submitted a planning brief to my Department for the replacement of St. Mary's Hospital in Drogheda, its priority for capital development was the St. Oliver Plunkett Hospital in Dundalk. I am glad to say that the St. Oliver Plunkett development is expected to be completed by the end of this month and it should be ready to receive patients early next year. However, because of the severe limitations on capital funds, consideration of the development of St. Mary's in Drogheda has had to be postponed pending the completion of St. Oliver Plunkett's.
Officers of my Department and officials of the health board are engaged in discussion on the issue of geriatric services in the North Eastern Health Board area generally and the matter of bed numbers in south Louth will be dealt with in this context.
I should point out that the current policy is to care for as many patients as possible in the community and to admit to long stay institutions only those patients who cannot reasonably be cared for in this way.