Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ennis General Hospital Bed-Closures

Donal Carey

Question:

295 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the female medical ward in Ennis General Hospital has been closed for the month of September contrary to the guaranteed timetable which the senior executives of the Mid-Western Health Board outlined to him on two occasions of his visit in August 1992; and if he will confirm that he has agreed to its continued closure despite the hardship and distress being caused to patients in County Clare who were moved to Limerick Regional Hospital or have had to share multi-sex facilities.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

As part of its normal seasonal bed closures, the Mid-Western Health Board reduced the bed numbers in Ennis General Hospital to 68 in-patient and six day beds. Bed closures are a feature of hospital bed management and are planned to coincide with periods where there is least demand for beds and when staff are on holidays. The situation is being reviewed by the health board in relation to the re-opening of the closed ward at the earliest possible date.

A relatively small number of patients from the Ennis catchment area have been admitted to the Limerick Regional Hospital in cases where they could not be accommodated in Ennis General Hospital. Some of these, I am informed, would have required admission to Limerick Regional Hospital in any event.

Every effort is made to avoid the mixing of patients, except in the geriatric ward (which was designed to accommodate male and female patients) and the intensive care unit in Ennis General Hospital.