Vol. 478 No. 7
18 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the alleged statement by the Secretary of his Department in a letter in relation to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, wherein he stated that a memorandum from the hospital in relation to its 1997 budget concerning cutbacks had been put in abeyance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11993/97]
Limerick East): The hospital, in common with all other agencies, was notified by the Department in December 1996 of the requirement to produce a service plan within budget for 1997. A series of meetings have been held between the Department of Health and the IMTH. Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, since the start of the year. However, a service plan has not yet been agreed.
To progress the issue, a collaborative working relationship has now been established between the hospital and the health board and they have set to work immediately to address the issues relating to the hospital's service plan for 1997.
On foot of this agreement, the hospital notified the Department that it had withdrawn its internal memorandum of 14 April 1997 and I have been advised that it will not form the basis of future service plan discussions.
Furthermore, a general manager has been seconded to the hospital from the health board very recently and financial expertise has also been engaged to assist the hospital.
I understand that the basis for service planning discussion will be as follows. First, service levels for 1997 will be maintained at 1996 levels, in line with other hospitals. Second, staffing levels will be maintained and all staff contracts will be fully honoured. Finally, I have been assured that there will be full consultation with all appropriate key hospital staff in the development of a service plan for 1997 prior to its agreement by the Department of Health.
