asked the Minister for Health whether his Department have a national hospital plan; whether the current ad hoc reduction in hospital capacity through health boards has his approval; and if he will clarify his role in relation to the future of individual acute general hospitals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Hospital Plan.
4.
In 1987 I initiated a comprehensive review of the acute hospital service with the objective of ensuring that the resources available are deployed with the maximum effectiveness and that a high level of service is available on an equitable basis throughout the country. This review led to a planned reduction in bed numbers through a mixture of bed closures, hospital closures and the rationalisation and the amalgamation of services.
I am satisfied that as a result of this initiative we have in this country a hospital organisation and an adequate level of service for the population. I have no plans at this stage for further hospital closures other than those already announced or for any radical change in organisation. The responsibility for the immediate role of any individual general hospital lies in the first instance with the relevant health board or hospital authority. In my view this is as it should be.
However, it is an important part of my responsibility, as Minister for Health, to keep under review the general roles and interrelationships of health board and voluntary hospitals to ensure that an efficient and effective hospital service is provided for the patients who require the service.
Can the Minister clarify this distinction between the national role he says he plays and the responsibility of health boards in specific cases? For example, Mallow General Hospital appears to be subject to restrictions, as is Castlereagh Psychiatric Hospital and there is the whole dispute vis-a-vis Cashel versus Clonmel. Can the Minister clarify exactly where he sees his national planning role versus the role of health boards in those specific instances?
The Deputy is going from the general to the particular.
The question did refer to the future of individual acute general hospitals.
Under the Health Act, 1970, the health boards have responsibility for the administration of the hospitals under their jurisdiction. As the Deputy will be aware, there are the eight health boards but there are also approximately 40 voluntary agencies, including the large major hospitals in Dublin, funded directly by the Department. We would have a responsibility there. We would also have overall responsibility to ensure that there was an efficient hospital service available to all our people. In regard to the specific instances the Deputy raised — Mallow and Castlereagh — I should say they would be the responsibility of the Southern and Western Health Boards respectively.
The Minister specified quite clearly his notion of planned reductions coming from his office. Specifically with regard to Mallow and Castlereagh are these reductions planned by the Minister's office?
There is continuous, ongoing consultation with my office. In regard to the plans in 1987 I should say these were drawn up by my office in conjunction with Comhairle na nOspidéal who also have a role to play in the regulation of hospitals.
The question I am asking is: do these two constitute a specific part of his plans?
As regards Mallow General Hospital, as I said in the House on an Adjournment Debate last week, at no stage did I ever suggest that that hospital should be closed. As I have said already today, what happens in Mallow hospital is a matter for the Southern Health Board. Obviously there will be ongoing consultations with my Department and we would be aware of proposals within the health boards. But statutory responsibility for what happens in Mallow is a matter for the Southern Health Board.
The Minister does not appear to be aware that the executive of the Southern Health Board have decided——
I am calling question No. 6.