Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

Written Answers. - St. Bricin's Military Hospital.

Noel Ahern

Question:

55 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Defence if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 22 April 1998, there are closed down empty wards in addition to the 64 bed spaces in St Bricin's Hospital; the maximum number of beds the hospital can cater for; the progress, if any, made with the suggested pilot scheme to take civilian patients from another hospital; when this will commence; the reason for the delay; and, if, in view of shortage of bed places in other hospitals, all available spaces will be put into use without further delay. [6588/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Thirty four bed spaces are currently available in St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin. Another 30 bed spaces are currently unavailable pending completion of contracting work which has necessitated the temporary closure of two wards – this work will be completed in about eight weeks time. An additional 20 bed spaces will become available in the next few months, following the completion of refurbishment work to ward no. 1. When these works are completed, St. Bricin's Hospital will have 84 bed spaces available.

The hospital also has an additional 30 potential bed spaces in ward no. 5. However, this ward is in need of very substantial refurbishment, including repairs to its roof. As sufficient beds are available for the admission of military patients, it is not proposed to carry out this refurbishment work at this time.

As I advised the House recently, a number of meetings have taken place between my Department and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, with a view to using St. Bricin's Military Hospital as a step down medical facility into which certain categories of civilian patients could be transferred. Agreement in principle was reached on the introduction of a pilot scheme under which up to eight civilian patients would be accommodated in St. Bricin's for periods ranging from seven to ten days. If the pilot scheme is successful it is intended that a long-term arrangement involving up to 20 civilian patients at a time will be put in place. It was recognised by all of the parties involved that a range of issues would have to be addressed before the pilot scheme could commence and some preparatory work has already been carried out in St. Bricin's in this regard.

Overall responsibility for the health and well-being of civilian patients in this country rests with the Department of Health and Children and it is essential that, in order to discharge its duties and responsibilities, that Department fully satisfies itself concerning all of the arrangements pertaining to the transfer, accommodation and treatment of civilian patients while in St. Bricin's Hospital. The Department of Health and Children has advised the Mater Hospital of its requirements in this regard, and it is understood that the matter is currently being pursued by the hospital authorities. A number of legal and insurance issues must also be resolved.

When the Department of Health and Children has satisfied itself fully with regard to the above requirements, it will formally approach my Department to request that St. Bricin's Hospital provide the facilities described above. In the meantime, I remain committed to the successful implementation of the pilot scheme and the matter will be progressed as quickly as possible.