Austin Currie
Question:11 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Health whether he has carried out an audit of available health equipment and ward space which is lying idle; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Ward Space-Health Equipment.
The position with regard to the equipment of each health agency is part of the annual audit conducted in the agencies. While no special audit has been carried out in respect of the items mentioned by the Deputy, my Department recently carried out a review of all surplus items held by each health agency with a view to maximising the use of such assets and developing a health service market for such equipemnt. This process will continue as part of an overall value-for-money programme.
Furthermore, in 1990 all health boards were required to develop asset registers and detailed guidelines were issued in this regard. Similar guidelines will be issued shortly to voluntary hospitals and organisations providing services for mentally handicapped persons. Such asset registers will be subject to the prescribed annual audit.
Considerable progress was made during 1989 and 1990 in commissioning newly built facilities. At present, the main ward space which is unopened is at St. James's Hospital. This will be fully commissioned before the end of 1991. A 50 bed psychiatric unit at Tralee will be commissioned later this year. Other hospitals may have small amounts of ward space unused for periods for a variety of reasons, including the provision of treatment on an outpatient or day basis.
Is the Minister aware of any diagnostic or treatment equipment lying idle for want of staff and, if so, whether it should be tackled as a priority? Does he feel that any of this space can be used to accelerate the development of community services to which he is committed?
I do not have any figures in relation to the availability of equipment and, indeed, looking through the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General I do not see a reference to any major equipment. I am unaware of any but as I said, an asset register is being established at the moment and I certainly agree with the Deputy that equipment not in use might be used somewhere else. The major space available is in St. James's and it will be open before the end of 1991.
Is the Minister aware that there are 100 bed spaces idle in Áras Attracta, Swinford? Has he any plans to fill them?
There are 54 residential places occupied in Aras Attracta and it is hoped to increase that number during the year.
The Minister said in his reply that 50 beds would be opened for a psychiatric unit in Tralee General Hospital. Will he indicate what will happen to the space which will be made available in St. Finian's Hospital, Killarney, as a result of the movement of this unit. Will he also indicate whether the necessary finance will be made available to the Southern Health Board to ensure the transition from Killarney to Tralee?
The Deputy is raising specific matters for which separate questions should be tabled.
The Minister referred to it in his reply.
That is so.
The Minister said that buildings are lying idle but extensions to buildings over the last five years would account for this. Will the Minister agree that the fact that these buildings have not yet been commissioned is the cause of the trouble.
No, the only major building remaining unopened is St. James's Hospital, which will be opened before the end of 1991.
With regard to the audit of assets which the Minister is carrying out, is he aware that many of the assets which are purportedly in the various hospitals throughout the country have become worthless by virtue of the failure of his Department to make adequate provision to the health boards for replacement and repair of essential medical equipment? Has the Minister any plans to rectify that this year?
There is no question of equipment becoming worthless as a result of not being properly maintained, it is properly maintained. Health boards provide replacement equipment from their own revenue and, from time to time, they are allocated capital for the provision of new equipment.