Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 3

Written Answers. - Geriatric Bed Places.

Noel Davern

Question:

173 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to allocate geriatric bed places in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and his views on whether the spaces available to the health board in the area are suitable. [1079/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): In the first instance, the provision of long-stay beds for the elderly in the Clonmel area is a matter for the South-Eastern Health Board.

The board inform me that it has adopted as policy the development of long-stay units close to major centres of population including Wexford, Kilkenny and Clonmel. In November, 1993 the board agreed a policy to provide a long-stay geriatric unit on the site at St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel, in a unit currently occupied by psychiatric patients and known as St. Anthony's unit. It is envisaged that St. Anthony's unit will become available for the provision of long-stay care for the elderly when the proposed development of community hostels, which are part of the South Tipperary development package currently at the planning stage, come on stream. These will provide places for persons with mental illness and mental handicap currently in St. Luke's and who are deemed appropriate for community placement. This reorganisation will free the beds in St. Anthony's unit for elderly long-stay patients which will, of course, be totally refurbished to meet the needs of elderly people. The board are satisfied that the provision of this unit will be a very suitable, cost-effective way of providing long-stay beds in Clonmel to meet the needs of the Clonmel catchment area.

The planned reorganisation of services at Cashel and Tipperary arising out of the South Tipperary Hospitals agreement will obviously provide further additional services for the elderly of South Tipperary.