asked the Minister for Health the exact status of the Royal City of Dublin Hospital, Baggot Street, Dublin 2; if all of the facilities and services which were indicated by him on a previous occasion as being provided by that hospital in its reduced capacity are performing satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Royal City of Dublin Hospital.
25.
The position is that up to 31 December 1987 the Royal City of Dublin Hospital, Baggot Street, was a voluntary hospital, managed by the hospital board. On 1 January 1988 the Eastern Health Board, under licence from the hospital board, assumed responsibility for the provision of services at Baggot Street.
Since January 1988, the facilities available at this hospital can be categorised under three headings: (a) Institutional Care — This comprises 35 long-stay geriatric beds, 15 respite beds and 13 GP access beds which were opened in March 1989; (b) Day Care Centre — The centre has 20 places and is fully operational. It is orientated towards rehabilitation of the elderly and contains physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities; (c) Community Health Centre — A wide range of community services is now available at Baggot Street and the local office for Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages is also located there. OPD, X-rays, speech therapy, an AIDS Drop-in Unit and a Child Psychiatric Clinic have been established this year and a unit for treatment of alcoholism is expected to commence in the near future.
I can confirm that the hospital is functioning most satisfactorily in its new role. AGP staffed minor casualty unit has not as yet been provided but this matter will be kept under review in the context of the increasing involvement of local GP's in the running of the Hospital.