Vol. 399 No. 10
140 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Health if it is the intention of the North-Western Health Board to close any wards in their hospitals this summer because of a shortage of finance; if so, the hospitals which will be affected; the number of wards/beds in each hospital to be closed; and if this will lead to further delays in the waiting lists.
The responsibility for providing acute hospital services in Counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim is a matter for the North-Western Health Board in the first instance. The board have advised me that, to coincide with periods when staff are on annual leave, activities will be slightly reduced in Sligo and Letterkenny General Hospitals for some weeks in the summer time. All emergency and urgent services will, of course, continue to be provided. This situation is similar to that which has obtained in previous years.
