Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Naas (Kildare) Hospital Programme.

Mr. Durkan

I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment and the Minister of State for coming in to reply.

The question of Naas hospital has been occupying the minds of public representatives in County Kildare for many years. In 1987 the former Minister, Mr. Barry Desmond, announced that the first phase of the development programme was to proceed. Further stages of the programme would cover the refurbishment of the theatre, outpatients' department and radiography department. In 1996, in line with public requests, the previous Minister decided to sanction stage 2 at a cost of £21.5 million. Final approval was given in May this year.

In reply to Parliamentary Question No. 90 on 1 October the Minister stated that the plan was being considered by the Eastern Health Board and the Department. The time for consideration, review and revision is long past. The position is so serious that following admission patients have to wait on trolleys in waiting areas and virtually have to share beds. The staff are finding it difficult to deliver the services expected in a major hospital.

This issue has not been politicised and I hope it never will be. The need is self-evident.

Any attempts to delay or in any way retard progress on the second stage of this development programme will be met by a very strong groundswell of reaction by the public in the Naas area, the fastest developing area in the country whose needs are obvious and have been well enunciated.

One school of thought is that the provision of additional wards would solve the problem. That suggestion is part of another agenda within certain sectors of the medical hierarchy who contend that the provision of additional wards would meet immediate needs and that the hospital could be downgraded and used for other purposes at a later stage. Such a proposal would be totally unacceptable.

I hope the Minister will inform us of his intention to allow the programme proceed as quickly as possible. While accepting that the drawing and approval stages must first be gone through, it is imperative that the plan proceed, as announced, in 1998. Any deviation from that timescale would be a serious blow to staff morale and to those who have been expecting that programme to be proceeded with for quite a long time.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

I am glad to have this opportunity to explain the present position in relation to Naas General Hospital.

The original plan for the development of this hospital set out proposals to update its facilities in four phases, the first of which was completed in 1991 and incorporated the psychiatric unit and ancillary facilities.

In 1993 a review group was established by my Department and the Eastern Health Board to examine the remaining stages of the development, taking account of the overall acute hospital requirements of the area, including the proposed new Tallaght Hospital. Following the review group's work, the Eastern Health Board produced a revised set of proposals for the phased development of Naas General Hospital.

A revised development brief for the hospital, incorporating the recommendations of the review group, was formally approved in June last. This approval allowed the Eastern Health Board to proceed with the preparation of a revised development control plan for the whole hospital development and the drafting of a more detailed phase II development option within the approved cost limits.

The phase II proposal includes new accommodation and the upgrading of existing facilities. The plan envisages the provision of the following services in new accommodation: an accident and emergency department; out-patient department; medical records department; entrance concourse; day services; an operating department; an intensive care unit; a coronary care unit; medical, surgical and geriatric wards and a geriatric day hospital.

I have been assured that the planning process for the hospital development is being progressed as quickly as possible by the Eastern Health Board which has appointed a design team for that purpose.

I am well aware of the current difficulties being experienced at the hospital. I can assure the House that the project continues to merit high priority in my Department's capital programme. I am anxious to ensure that the development will meet the real needs of the people of the area served by this hospital. Further discussions are being held between my Department and the Eastern Health Board to ensure that the planning of the hospital continues to proceed.

While Deputy Durkan mentioned his anxiety about any delays or dragging of feet, with the Minister for Finance residing in County Kildare I can assure him that there will be no danger of anybody in my Department being allowed to drag their feet.