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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Ivor Callely

Question:

193 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the consideration, if any, he has given to the submission he received with regard to the Dublin accident and emergency hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1645/97]

Limerick East): The hospital service has encountered problems in the provision of accident and emergency services, particularly during the winter, over the past number of years. The shortage of sub-acute beds in Dublin has caused problems in that acute hospitals have not been able to discharge patients in sufficient numbers and quickly enough to cater for new patients seeking the services of the hospital.

In order to provide relief for the acute hospitals and enable them discharge patients no longer in need of acute hospital care but who require sub-acute care, my Department has agreed a plan of action with the Eastern Health Board for the winter of 1996-97. This involves tackling a number of areas including services for the elderly, services for the chronically disabled and the management of services provided by the acute hospitals themselves.
The plan will cost £2.75 million annually and I have now provided the funding for this major initiative.
Included in the plan are the following measures: an additional 30 beds in nursing homes, a new 25 bed community unit in Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, 17 extra beds in Leopardstown Hospital, 25 extra beds for the elderly in Peamount Hospital, 25 beds for the young chronically disabled in Peamount Hospital. Six new community ward teams for the elderly, additional beds in acute hospitals, and a public education campaign on the appropriate use of accident and emergency departments.
I am glad to inform the Deputy that arrangements are well under way to put these initiatives in place and some of the facilities are already in operation.
This is the largest package of measures by any Minister for Health to deal with the relief of the winter problems of the acute hospitals and I am confident that it will provide much needed relief for the hospital service in Dublin.
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