Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 1

Written Answers. - Dublin Hospital Equipment Requirements.

Liam Aylward

Question:

499 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the special radium treatment machine in St. Luke's Hospital. Dublin 6 is constantly breaking down and as a result patients who travel from the country to this hospital must return home without this urgent treatment; and if he will consider having funds made available to have extra machines provided in this hospital.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I presume the Deputy is referring to the events at St. Luke's/St. Anne's Hospital when one of the linear accelerators broke down on the 16 September last. A replacement part was obtained from the UK and the machine was repaired by the 19th. This interruption of service necessitated a rescheduling of patients. However, with regard to the specific point made by the Deputy, I am assured by St. Luke's/St. Anne's Hospital that no patients were sent home without treatment.

At the request of my Department, the hospital are at present reviewing their equipment requirements, which, when submitted to my Department, will be considered in the context of the available resources and having regard to the many other competing priority requirements throughout the country.

St. Luke's/St. Anne's are currently treating an additional 34 patients who would usually be treated at Cork Regional Hospital. This situation has come about as a result of the cobalt unit in Cork Regional Hospital breaking down. As the cobalt unit in Cork was not repairable, I was glad to immediately approve a capital grant of £455,000 for the purchase of a new machine, which is expected to become operational during the month of November. This was in addition to a grant of £300,000 which I approved in respect of a new linear accelerator at Cork Regional Hospital.