Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 5

Written Answers - Hospital Accommodation.

Brendan Daly

Question:

102 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of designated beds in the acute public hospitals in the Mid-Western Health Board area; if his attention has been drawn to the acute bed shortage at Ennis General Hospital; the plans, if any, he has for improvement at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4463/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

There is currently a total of 772 designated beds in the Mid-Western Health Board's acute hospital programme.

The provision of services at Ennis General Hospital is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. The board's 1998 service plan for that hospital is based on a projected overall activity level for 1998 that is broadly in line with the level provided in 1997, with a shift from in-patient to day case activity provided for. The plan envisages a decrease in general surgical activity and concomitant expansion of specialty surgery in the hospital in 1998, specifically in urology and gynaecology. It states that the introduction of a new clinical speciality at the hospital in 1998 will be facilitated by the recruitment of an oral surgeon based at the Regional Hospital Limerick, with an out-patient and day case sessional commitment to Ennis General Hospital. The board's plan also outlines the intention to deploy development funding of £50,000 in supporting a replacement consultant physician with an interest in cardiology, who is due to take up duty at the hospital in July 1998.

My Department will remain in contact with the Mid-Western Health Board in relation to the ongoing needs of Ennis General Hospital, including any longer term capital development requirements that are identified by the board.