Vol. 419 No. 6
187 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that patients are being turned away from St. James's Hospital due to a lack of facilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that there have been difficulties regarding the admission of elective patients to St. James's Hospital. These difficulties have arisen mainly from the large number of admissions to the hospital in recent times through the accident and emergency department. This has decreased the number of beds available for elective cases, which has led to the deferral of booked admissions in a number of instances.
I am glad to inform the Deputy that the hospital authorities are taking steps to address this matter and are making an additional 18 beds available. I am also aware that the hospital management is actively investigating how improvements can be made in the internal organisation of the hospital to improve both the efficiency and the cost-effectiveness of patient care.
My Department has had discussions with the hospital management regarding the matter and the hospital proposes to carry out a study to investigate the underlying reasons which gave rise to this problem. The study will cover the period July to December 1992 and I hope that, arising from the findings, the hospital will be in a position to take positive action to avoid a repeat of these difficulties in 1993.
The Deputy will appreciate that, in each case, the admission of a patient to hospital is a clinical decision for the consultant in charge of the case. Waiting lists are kept under review and priority is given according to medical need. Should a patient's condition be causing concern, it is open to his or her general practitioner to stress the urgency of the case to the consultant concerned.
