asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the eight bed intensive care unit at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12 has had to be reduced to six beds as a result of nursing staff reductions caused by recent cutbacks; his views on whether the critically ill children in this unit who need cardiac, thoracic and spinal surgery cannot wait for treatment until the economy improves; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Intensive Care Unit.
96.
I am aware that Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin is taking all necessary measures to enable it to function within its approved 1987 allocation. These measures include a reduction in the number of beds in the intensive care unit.
Despite this reduction, I am assured that this hospital is making every effort to protect the specialist services mentioned by the Deputy so that delay and inconvenience to patients is minimised.