Ivan Yates
Question:188 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health whether there will be consultation with local medical interests prior to any decision by the health board or his
Written Answers. - Proposed Change in Use of County Wexford Hospital.
Department to purchase a private hospital (details supplied) in County Wexford; if his attention has been drawn to a recent compromise proposal that would provide the health board with longstay geriatric beds in this unit while at the same time leaving some of the facilities available for the existing private health care facilities that are operating there; and his current intentions in relation to this matter.
As the Deputy will be aware there is very substantial support in Wexford for the provision of residential facilities for older citizens. I am currently considering recent proposals by the South Eastern Health Board to improve services for older people in Wexford, including the use of the private hospital referred to by the Deputy as a community nursing unit for the elderly. I can assure the Deputy that I will be consulting with the medical interests affected by any change of use in the hospital.