asked the Minister for Health if he has approved capital allocation to the Western Health Board for the reconstruction of the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon to accommodate patients from St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea.
124.
Written Answers. - County Roscommon Hospitals.
123.
asked the Minister for Health whether he considers it proper to mortgage the land at St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon to fund development at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon.
125.
asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange that his inspectors examine the feasibility of developing St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon as (1) a high support hostel (2) a psycho-geriatric unit and (3) another type of psychiatric service for County Roscommon.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 124 and 125 together.
The plans for the development of psychiatric services in County Roscommon involve the provision of an acute psychiatric unit at the County Hospital, Roscommon. This unit is expected to open in mid 1989 at which stage routine admissions to St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea will cease. I have provided the necessary capital resources to enable this unit to be completed. The provision of alternative facilities for other categories of patients, including psycho-geriatric patients, currently in St. Patrick's Hospital, is the subject of discussions between the Western Health Board and officers of my Department. In the interim, services essential to the requirements of patients will continue to be provided in St. Patrick's Hospital.
The future use of the land at St. Patrick's Hospital is a matter in the first instance for the Western Health Board as part of its estate management policy. I am in agreement with the board's proposals regarding the use of funds derived from the sale of lands at St. Patrick's Hospital towards the capital costs arising from the development of the alternative facilities referred to above.