Vol. 519 No. 3
112 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the year when the issue of the use of St. Bricin's Military Hospital by non-military patients was first considered; the year when agreement in principle was reached; the developments recently to maximise the benefits accruing from the use of St. Bricin's by non-military patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13649/00]
The question of the possible use of St. Bricin's Military Hospital for civilian patients was first mooted in late 1997, following contacts between military medical staff and the Mater Hospital. Agreement in principle was reached in 1998 between my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital on a proposal to use St. Bricin's Military Hospital as a step down medical facility into which certain categories of civilian patients could be transferred from the Mater Hospital. It was agreed that, initially, a pilot scheme would be set up under which up to eight civilian patients would be accommodated in St. Bricin's for periods ranging from seven to ten days. If this pilot scheme proved successful, the intention would be to enter into a long-term arrangement for accommodating up to 20 civilian patients at a time at St. Bricin's Hospital.
The Department of Health and Children has overall responsibility for the proposal. Accordingly, before any pilot scheme can commence, it is essential that the Department of Health and Children has fully satisfied itself with regard to all the arrangements surrounding the transfer, accommodation and treatment of civilian patients in St. Bricin's Hospital. I am informed that proposals made by the Mater Hospital to the Department of Health and Children with regard to the use of St. Bricin's Hospital for civilian patients are under examination by that Department's chief medical officer. While it is accepted by that Department that the proposals have merit, a number of important issues still require clarification to ensure that patients are best served at all times. The Department of Health and Children remains in communication concerning these issues. When the Department of Health and Children have reached their required level of clarification, they will be in a position to make a decision on the matter. A number of complex legal and insurance issues will also need to be resolved by the Department of Health and Children prior to the commencement of the pilot scheme.
With effect from 1 March, 2000 the new Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) is the statutory body with responsibility for health and personal social services for people who live in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. The ERHA is currently examining the accident and emergency services in their region with a view to bringing forward recommendations to improve services and address existing deficiencies. The proposals for St. Bricin's Hospital will be considered in the context of this review.
When the Department of Health and Children has satisfied itself fully with regard to the proposed arrangements, 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. There is, however, no further action which can be taken by my Department on this proposal at present until the Department of Health and Children has satisfied itself fully with regard to the proposed arrangements.
