Vol. 488 No. 2
41 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children when work will commence on the provision of additional adult public cardiac surgery facilities at St. James's Hospital; whether the capital costs for this project of £6.1 million are provided for in the 1998 Estimates; when it is anticipated the new facilities will be completed, opened and in use; and the year when the target activity levels will be 450 procedures per annum. [5457/98]
82 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Health and Children when work will commence on the provision of additional adult public cardiac surgery facilities at St. James's Hospital; whether the capital costs for this project of £6.1 million are provided for in the 1998 Estimates; when it is anticipated the new facilities will be completed, opened and in use; and the year when the target activity levels will be 450 procedures per annum. [5460/98]
125 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children when work will commence on the provision of additional adult public cardiac surgery facilities at St. James's Hospital; whether the capital costs for this project of £6.1 million are provided for in the 1998 Estimates; when the new facilities will be completed, opened and in use; and when the target activity levels will be 450 procedures per annum. [5862/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 82 and 125 together.
Design work for this project is due to start this month. Construction could start in December 1998 in which case the unit could be ready by the end of 1999, assuming no problems arise with planning permission. The full capital costs of the project will not be required in the current year and funding for the development will be provided as required. As the building work is programmed to be completed in 1999, a full year's activity of 450 procedures should be achieved in the year 2000.
