Vol. 454 No. 8
49 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent statement by a consultant surgeon that the number of beds at Tallaght Hospital will be less than sufficient to support the amount of clinical activity that the catchment area will demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11559/95]
Limerick East): The total bed complement for the new Tallaght Hospital is 513. This figure was derived from the 1992 review of the Tallaght Hospital project carried out by the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group under the chairmanship of Professor David Kennedy. The report of the advisory group formed the basis for the Government decision in 1992 to proceed with construction of the hospital. The Tallaght Hospital board is charged with the planning and equipping of the new hospital within the total bed complement.
A number of approaches to designating the specialty breakdown of beds within the total complement of 513 beds are now being considered by the Tallaght Hospital board. This examination will need to take into account, inter alia, the specific needs of the Tallaght catchment area and the rapidly evolving patterns of practice in acute hospital medicine. The final assignment of beds by specialty within the overall agreed complement will be a matter for ratification by the Tallaght Hospital board.
