Vol. 476 No. 4
31 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the current number of beds occupied in St. Bricin's Hospital, Dublin 7; the occupancy rate of the total beds over the past 12 months; if he has satisfied himself with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7033/97]
At present 35 members of the Defence Forces are undergoing in-patient treatment in St. Bricin's Military Hospital. The bed occupancy rate at the hospital varies between 25 and 40 and over the last 12 months the average occupancy rate was 52 per cent.
St. Bricin's Hospital, which caters for personnel from all units of the Defence Forces, has a total of 64 beds and an operating theatre. As well as in-patient treatment, including general surgery, the hospital also provides out-patient treatment, dental, x-ray, physiotherapy, psychiatric, ENT, pharmaceutical and sports injury services. In the circumstances I am satisfied that St. Bricin's Hospital provides the highest standard of medical care for members of the Defence Forces.
