Vol. 517 No. 4
92 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children whether all but five of the infant incubators at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, have been declared obsolete by the manufacturers; and, if so, when they are to be replaced. [9886/00]
222 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children whether all but five of the infant incubators at the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, have been declared obsolete by the manufacturers; and when they are to be replaced. [10216/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 222 together.
The replacement of medical equipment is a matter, in the first instance, for the hospital concerned, in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
I am assured by the management of the Coombe Women's Hospital that all infant incubators currently in use in the hospital comply with their manufacturers' safety and performance specifications and, therefore, are safe and perform satisfactorily.
As part of an ongoing programme to enable hospitals generally to update their medical equipment my Department has provided specific funding for this purpose in each hospital's letter of determination since 1998. The Deputy will appreciate that it is the responsibility of each hospital, including the Coombe Women's Hospital, to determine its priority equipping needs and to ensure that equipment is replaced as required in accordance with these needs.
The Coombe Women's Hospital was allocated capital funding of £160,000, £170,000 and £170,000 in 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively, towards the cost of replacing medical equipment and for minor capital works under this programme. The hospital has submitted a comprehensive list of replacement equipment proposals to the ERHA and has identified a number of incubators as a priority for replacement.
The ERHA is currently assessing all of the hospital's proposals in line with regional care priorities and in the context of the National Development Programme. It is expected to conclude its assessment shortly.
