asked the Minister for Health if his Department will provide an accident and emergency unit at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Gurranabraher, Cork, in the vacant unit in that hospital, in order that this essential service, which does not exist at present, is established for people living in North Cork; if the £100,000 promised by his Department for the North Infirmary, Cork, last year can be reallocated towards the cost of setting up such a unit at St. Mary's; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Accident and Emergency Unit.
80.
As the Deputy is aware, the organisation of acute hospital services in Southern Health Board institutions is a matter for the health board.
The Deputy will be aware that officials of my Department, officials of the health board and representatives of the Mercy and South Infirmary-Victoria Hospitals have been meeting to discuss improved co-ordination of hospital services in Cork. A detailed examination of accident and emergency services has been carried out, as a result of which the health board and my Department are satisfied that an adequate service for the population of Cork city and county can be provided by the existing hospitals.
Because of the low usage of the casualty department at the North Infirmary in 1988 and because of the pressure on the Mercy Hospital, I decided that the £100,000 which was available to improve casualty services in north Cork City would be best spent on improving accident and emergency facilities at the Mercy Hospital. In total, a grant of £335,000 was made available to the Mercy Hospital for this purpose. As a result of these improvements, the Mercy Hospital is in a position to provide for the needs of the north Cork area.