Bernard Allen
Question:299 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding that he is making available to the Southern Health Board for the construction of a day procedures unit. [23147/00]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that I have secured funding of £5.7 million under the national development plan for the day surgery unit which will also incorporate endoscopy facilities.
Bernard Allen
Question:300 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received proposals from health boards regarding the introduction of a bereavement programme in public hospitals. [23148/00]
The Deputy will be aware that a national advisory committee on palliative care services was established in 1999 to report on matters relevant to the development of palliative care services. An essential part of palliative care is bereavement support. The committee is considering the level of services at both national and regional levels. It is the Department's intention that further developments in the palliative care service area will follow from the report of the national advisory committee which is due at the end of this year. In 2000 my Department provided an additional £3.3 million to the health boards and the eastern regional health authority specifically for the further development of palliative care services.