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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 4

Written Answers. - Dialysis Service.

Mary Wallace

Question:

55 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Meath has to leave his home three mornings a week at 4 a.m. to travel to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 for dialysis and that he is not the only patient in this position as other patients are collected at 3 a.m. in Dundalk, 3.30 a.m. in Laytown and 4 a.m. in Duleek and brought to the dialysis machine at Beaumont; the reason there is no dialysis service in the north east to cater for these patients in view of the fact that it seems extraordinary to be taking these kidney patients out of their beds in the middle of the night for treatment; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that one of these patients has no kidney in use and thereby has to stop halfway on the journey to order to empty his bag; his views on whether this is an acceptable health service for these patients in the 1990s; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[11187/97]

Mary Wallace

Question:

56 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will give in tabular form the location of each dialysis machine in the country; the reason there is no dialysis machine located in the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11188/97]

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has made substantial funds available for the development of the dialysis service at Cavan General Hospital, which serves counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Longford and north Meath. The rest of the region, because of its proximity to Dublin, is served by Beaumont Hospital.

I have had inquiries made of the North-Eastern Health Board and I understand that the board has looked at the feasibility of setting up a new service for the Louth-Meath area, but at present the numbers are insufficient to justify the costs involved. It is satisfied that the needs of Louth-Meath patients are, for the most part, well met by the Cavan and Dublin based services. However, it is aware that there is some hardship endured by a limited number of patients in north Louth, who have to leave home very early to attend for dialysis in Dublin. Because of the increase in the past year in the number of patients from the Louth-Meath area who are receiving dialysis at Dubln Hospitals, it has not been possible up to this point to offer flexibility in the timing of the treatments. However, I have asked the board, as a matter of urgency, to examine the specific issue of transportation arrangements, taking into account the individual circumstances of the board's dialysis patients.

The board has confirmed that it is keeping the service needs under review, and it is also exploring the possibility of availing of services at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, where the commencement of a new dialysis service is imminent.
In relation to the Deputy's question regarding the location of each dialysis machine in the country, this information is contained in the following schedule.
Location of Dialysis Machines

Area

Number

Eastern Health Board

Beaumont

32

Crumlin

5

Mater

2

Meath

7

St. James's

2

St. Vincent's

3

Temple Street

1

Mid-Western Health Board

Limerick Regional

9

North-Eastern Health Board

Cavan

8

North-Western Health Board

Letterkenny

11

Sligo

9

South-Eastern Health Board

Waterford

13

Southern Health Board

C.U.H.

14

Tralee

6

Western Health Board

Mayo General

6

Merlin Park, Galway

15

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