asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4 is not able to maintain its current level of accident and emergency services which was to cover the enlarged area of the south-east area of Dublin city and county having regard to the forced closure of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin 2 and Baggot Street Hospital, Dublin 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dublin Hospital Services.
41.
I am aware of the difficulties which St. Vincent's Hospital is having in coping with its responsibilities in relation to accident and emergency services. I can assure the Deputy that, despite these difficulties, the hospital will continue to devote such of its resources as are necessary to provide an adequate service for those who are genuinely in need of it.
I regret that the Deputy should choose to provoke needless anxiety and cause undue concern to people living in the area, by implying that people's lives are at risk because of financial cutbacks. Hospitals must accept that their first duty is to provide emergency services and the balance of resource distribution between emergency and elective work must be kept under constant review and adjusted, as the needs require. My Department is working constantly with all major hospitals to satisfactorily resolve this issue.