Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 6

Written Answers. - Provision of CT Scanner.

Michael Bell

Question:

26 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health the reason he has not yet given sanction to the provision of a CAT scanner at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth; if he has received confirmation from the hospital board that they will provide the total cost of this equipment; if so, if he will provide the finance either directly from his Department or through the North Eastern Health Board to staff the operation of the equipment; his views on whether this equipment is urgently required in an area which has the highest percentage of traffic accidents in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I have been notified by the authorities of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, that they intend to acquire a CT scanner, the cost of which is to be met from voluntary donation.

It had been explained to the hospital authorities on many occasions during the course of the year that there would be no additional funds available from my Department to facilitate the further development of services at the hospital at this stage.

Notwithstanding this the hospital decided to proceed with the purchase of the CT scanner and in the circumstances it could only have been presumed that they had made provision by way of cost saving measures in other areas to meet the significant revenue costs involved in operating the scanner.

In all the circumstances and in view of the many competing service requirements throughout the country which I am endeavouring to meet within the finite resources at my disposal, I regret that I will not be in a position to provide additional revenue funding for this purpose in the foreseeable future.