Vol. 501 No. 3
85 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding discussions to provide an acceptable epidural service at Tralee General Hospital, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5987/99]
As outlined in the Dáil Adjournment of Thursday, 11 February 1999, I am committed to the development of services in Tralee General Hospital in line with priorities identified by the Southern Health Board. Since the beginning of 1998 I have provided over £500,000 in additional funding for the development of services in the hospital. These developments include improvements to medical and nursing staff levels in the accident and emergency department, the appointment of an extra radiologist and associated paramedical staff to bring the new CT scanner fully into service and increase the levels of midwifery staff to improve services to mothers attending Tralee hospital. Approval was also granted for the appointment of a registrar in the obstetric department at the hospital. I will con tinue to provide further resources for the development of services at the hospital in line with the Southern Health Board and national policy.
The development of epidural services and obstetric services generally have been identified as a priority by the Southern Health Board. There is a limited epidural service available in Tralee General Hospital at present and the board is committed to upgrading the availability of epidural services in Tralee General Hospital. Discussions with clinical staff are ongoing to resolve a range of medical issues associated with the expansion of the service in the first instance before the expansion of the service can take place.
I have been advised by the Southern Health Board that in line with these discussions certain proposals have been made and these are now being examined by the board. A further meeting is being planned over the coming weeks. I have asked the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board to keep the Deputy informed directly on the progress of these discussions.
86 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the expected level of job cutbacks, reductions in urology and orthopaedic services and percentage of capacity of Tallaght Hospital by the end of 1999 as compared with the levels at the end of 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5947/99]
The 1999 service plan recently submitted by Tallaght Hospital outlines the services it plans to provide in 1999. The plan aims to consolidate services transferred from the base hospital to Tallaght in June 1998 and to maintain activity at the levels prevailing in November and December 1998.
In relation to job cutbacks the plan – excluding commissioning staff – reflects a reduction of 25 posts, which will be achieved through the completion of temporary contracts in the period to 30 June 1999.
The plan highlights the fact that the hospital will not now be bringing on stream its planned private and semi-private facilities until next year and will, therefore, continue to be approximately 75 beds short of the bed complement it had in the base hospitals. This is the reason for some reduction in services. The plan acknowledges that some services have been hit by the bed reduction, particularly elective orthopaedics with a 25 per cent fall in activity in the second half of the year compared to the output at the base hospitals and urology with a 10 per cent fall in activity.
The hospital had an overall occupancy from August through to December 1998 of 94 per cent. As projections for 1999 are based significantly on this period, I would envisage the hospital operating at somewhat similar capacity to the end of 1999.
