Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:
100
Mrs. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for Health
when funding will be made available towards the cost of a diabetic clinic at Tralee General Hospital, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3567/97]
Limerick East): Diabetic services for the Southern Health Board are currently provided at Cork University Hospital, where the board's endocrinology service is based, at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital and also by a number of general physicians in Tralee General Hospital.
The question of a consultant led service in Kerry has been raised in the recent past and the health board has examined the options in relation to the delivery of this service in consultation with senior medical, nursing and other staff.
Following its consultation process, the board is now of the opinion that the establishment of a diabetic clinic at Tralee would require the appointment of an additional consultant. In view of the significant resource implications for this development, it will have to be prioritised, in the first instance, by the board. In this regard, CT scanning for Tralee has already been identified by the board as its top priority and funding is being provided for this development in 1997.
In addition, the board is proceeding to appoint a consultant geriatrician for Tralee, which was also identified as a priority. My Department has also approved funding to improve accident and emergency facilities and renal services in the hospital, all of which have been identified by the board as priority requirements.
On the specific question of consultant appointments, following the Comhairle na nOspideal review of consultant staff in the Southern Health Board area, the medical staff and the hospital management met and agreed that the priority consultant posts for the hospital are a pathologist, a radiologist and an anaesthetist. My Department is currently in discussion with the health board in relation to these priority posts.
Finally, on the question of interim arrangements for the delivery of a diabetic service at Tralee, the Deputy will wish to know that a number of options are being explored by the board in consultantion with the hospital authorities and my Department.
