Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Clean Air Theatres.

Noel Treacy

Question:

252 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Health the reason the clean air theatres at Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway are not being used on a regular basis; the date on which they will be commissioned; the total cost involved; the number of staff allocated to these theatres; the annual cost of this staff allocation; the number of operations that have taken place in these new theatres since they were opened for such operations; the reason they are not being used on a permanent basis; the action, if any, he proposes to take to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16022/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The two clean air theatres in Merlin Park Regional Hospital opened in 1993. In order to facilitate this expansion in orthopaedic services, my Department provided the Western Health Board with additional moneys of £400,000 in 1994, and £70,000 in 1995.

I understand from the board that the total number of staff — medical, nursing, clerical and paramedical support — is 16, at an approximate annual cost of £300,000. Annual non-pay costs are in the region of £300,000 also. A total of 1,100 operations were carried out in the hospital in 1995.

I understand from the board that both clean air theatres are used for elective orthopaedic surgery, Monday to Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Trauma procedures account for 70 per cent of the hospital's current orthopaedic workload and the trauma theatres are in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The board informs me that consultant anaesthetist cover is provided seven days a week for trauma work and this arrangement has affected the availability of anaesthetists for elective work. I understand that the board will be employing a locum anaesthetist to help alleviate this problem.

In this regard, I remind the Deputy that the planning and provision of elective orthopaedic procedures at Merlin Park Regional Hospital is a matter for the Western Health Board to address from within the resources available to it. My Department has recognised the need for the expansion of orthopaedic services at the hospital and this is reflected in the additional moneys made available to the board as outlined above. I am confident that the Western Health Board will identify ways of overcoming the present difficulties so that the facilities at the hospital can be fully utilised for the maximum benefit of orthopaedic patients.