asked the Minister for Health the exact level of services that are being provided in the former Royal Hospital, Baggot Street, Dublin 4; the number of staff who are currently employed; the budget that has been allocated by the Eastern Health Board to the hospital for 1988; the number of beds that are available to accommodate patients; the number of doctors who are availing of the community health facilities; whether the facilities currently in place represent the total commitment of the Eastern Health Board to Baggot Street Hospital or whether it is proposed to make additional resources available in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Baggot Street (Dublin) Hospital.
216.
The Eastern Health Board are now providing services in the former Royal City of Dublin Hospital, Baggot Street, Dublin. These services are being introduced on a phased basis and at present there are 18 long stay patients being accommodated in the hospital. There are 37 staff employed at present and this will increase to 47 within the next few weeks when the number of patients accommodated will be increased to 50.
The 50 bed complement will cater for 35 long stay, ten respite and five intermittent care patients. Within the next three weeks the dental unit, health centre and a high support day care centre for the elderly will be brought into operation. There are also plans for the introduction of G.P practice and minor GP casualty services. Discussions are ongoing in this regard and the number of doctors who will avail of these services is not yet agreed.
The Eastern Health Board allocation in respect of this new development is £952 million for 1988. The facilities currently in place and those which will be introduced in the coming weeks will be developed in line with response to demand and need for the service in the area.