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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

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

Noel Ahern

Question:

89 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children 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. [6589/99]

I have had inquiries made of the Department of Defence and I have been advised that 34 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. However, 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.

I understand that 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.

The Deputy will be aware that a number of meetings have taken place between the Department of Defence 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. Both agencies agreed in principle to 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 will have to be addressed before the pilot scheme can commence and some preparatory work has already been carried out in this regard.

My Department has indicated its broad support for this proposal. However, there are a number of factors which must be taken into consideration. Principal among these is the need to ensure that patient interest is best served at all times. With this in mind, a number of legal and insurance issues must be resolved and clear protocols for the selection, transfer and management of patients must be established.
I asked the Mater Misericordiae Hospital to prepare a detailed submission, setting out the arrangements for the use of this facility and I have received their proposals within the last two days. When these proposals have been fully considered within my Department, I will then be in a position to make a decision on the matter.
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