Vol. 482 No. 6
304 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the concern of cancer patients regarding the closure of a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin 6; the way in which this decision is justified; the alternative arrangements, if any, which will be made; if it will mean a reduction of 30 in the number of cancer patient beds available nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/97]
The present number of beds at St. Luke's and St. Anne's hospitals is as follows: St. Luke's 100; St. Anne's 59. It should be noted that within the total number of beds at St. Anne's, there are 17 beds which are not accessible by lift and are therefore only available for patients who are mobile enough to use the stairs.
My Department is presently involved in a major re-development at St. Luke's Hospital which, when completed, will see St. Luke's and St. Anne's hospitals amalgamating. This re-development, which has the full support of all interests represented on the board of the hospitals, involves the complete upgrading of accommodation throughout the hospital and the provision of new radiotherapy equipment. As part of the development, St. Anne's Hospital will close and with the transfer of beds from St. Anne's, a total of 144 beds will be available at the new St. Luke's Hospital including day beds and hostel places. These beds will be situated in an environment providing all normal modern hospital facilities, e.g. piped medical gases, nurse call system, patient amenities such as radio and T.V. and easy access to all areas of the hospital. The hostel, which will have 20 beds available, will be specifically designed to support patients from outside Dublin in need of overnight accommodation while attending for therapy.
