Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Michael Ring

Question:

170 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding allocated to a district hospital and Áras Deirbhle hospital, Belmullet, County Mayo, in each of the past five years; the way in which this funding has been spent; if the funding resulted in any additional beds in the long stay units in either hospital; and the bed numbers for each of the past five years. [11570/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

171 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will appoint an inspector to carry out an independent evaluation to examine the conditions for staff and the patients in Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11571/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

173 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds available in Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo; the number of beds available in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; the funding of this hospital for the past three years; and the proposals of the Western Health Board, if any, to upgrade the facilities at this hospital. [11573/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

175 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if any patients or staff in a hospital for the elderly, Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo, were involved in any accidents or incurred any injuries as a result of building works; if so, if a full investigation will be carried out in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11575/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Moffatt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171, 173 and 175 together.

The responsibility for provision of services at Áras Deirbhla, Belmullet, County Mayo, is a matter for the Western Health Board. I am informed by the board that urgent repairs have had to be carried out in the past few weeks to the hot water piping system at Áras Deirbhla. The repairs resulted in unavoidable disruption to both staff and patients. This disruption was compounded by a delay in getting replacement piping and contractors to carry out the work at short notice. A member of staff endured a fall but is thankfully recovering with support from the nearby district hospital. The board has assured me that the appropriate procedures which apply to injuries at work were adhered to correctly. No other injuries have been reported as a result of the work carried out.

I am informed that the Western Health Board is currently conducting a safety audit in Áras Deirbhle and if the audit indicates a need to involve the Health and Safety Authority, the authority will be invited to conduct a further evaluation.

The bed complement and the allocation of funding for both Áras Deirbhle and the District Hospital, Belmullet, for the past five years is shown on the following schedule. The revenue allocation for the year 2000 includes a sum of £150,000 for four additional nursing staff and two additional para-medical staff. This provides for the redesignation of ten existing welfare beds to continuing care which will all but eliminate the need for patients from the local area to avail of long stay care outside the Belmullet area. The refurbishment of Áras Deirbhle and the District Hospital, Belmullet, will depend on the priority attached to such works by the Western Health Boardvis-à-vis its other capital proposals for the improvements of services for older people under the national development plan.

Service	Revenue Pay	Revenue Non Pay	Total	Capital	Bed Numbers
Belmullet District Hospital	£000	£000	£000	£000
1996	703	192	895		40
1997	793	193	986	110	40
1998	838	195	1,033		40
1999	920	200	1,120	310	40
2000	984	198	1,182		40
Aras DeirbhleCommunity Nursing Home	£000	£000	£000	£000
1996	345	62	407		40
1997	403	65	468		40
1998	450	64	514		40
1999	478	65	543		40
2000	560	65	625		40

Michael Ring

Question:

172 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) from County Mayo had to be flown from Mayo General Hospital to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for medical treatment recently; and the reason there was no bed available for this person here. [11572/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The provision of medical treatment to eligible persons in County Mayo in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.