Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Bernard Allen

Question:

146 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will address the situation where the CT scanner at the Cork University Hospital, which has a normal life of eight years and one million scans, has operated literally night and day for ten years and has done 1.5 million scans and, despite the fact that it has broken down on six occasions in the last four months, no decision has been made to replace it resulting in the fact that patients have to be transported to an alternative hospital to have scans carried out with serious inconvenience to very ill patients and delays in getting a diagnosis. [13584/98]

Bernard Allen

Question:

147 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation where there is a six month out-patient waiting list for a routine CT scan in Cork University Hospital; and his views on whether this is an acceptable waiting period. [13585/98]

Bernard Allen

Question:

148 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the submission made by the Southern Health Board for capital investment at the Cork University Hospital; and when a decision will be made on the issue particularly in view of the fact that essential diagnostic equipment is faulty and needs replacing. [13586/98]

Bernard Allen

Question:

149 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the opinion of the chairperson of the Southern Health Board that Cork University Hospital needs £4 million investment to upgrade wards and to maintain the general fabric of the hospital just to restore it to a safe level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13587/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 147, 148 and 149 together.

The determination of priorities for capital expenditure is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance and my Department is in regular contact with the board about capital investment in the board'a acute hospitals. I am committed to making provision for priority capital needs and I have made in excess of £2 million available to the board towards the cost of replacing medical equipment, maintenance and fire precaution works in the 1998 determination of expenditure. This is the first time that such a provision has been made and it is also intended that such a provision will be a feature of future determinations. The question of further capital funding for essential equipment over and above the significant sum already made available is being considered as a matter of urgency and I expect to communicate shortly with the board about the matter.