Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
John McGuinness
Question:
450
Mr. McGuinness
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the reason the South Eastern Health Board has proposed to reduce the number of gynaecological beds in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, from 14 to eight from 1 November 2000 which will severely curtail gynaecological services; and if he will intervene and prevent this policy from being implemented.
[24025/00]
The provision of services at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny is a matter for the South Eastern Health Board in the first instance.
The South Eastern Health Board document, Shaping the Future of the Kilkenny Hospital System, is the blueprint for the development of St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny as a comprehensive, integrated, quality and efficient hospital, capable of meeting the challenges of the times in a competent and humane manner. The target date set for rationalisation of all hospital services in Kilkenny city into an interactive hospital complex is 2002.
This development plan contains proposals to enhance existing services on the St. Luke's site including general surgery, general medicine, obstetrics, gynaecology, accident and emergency and diagnostic services. It proposes to provide all hospital services on one site in a way that combines ease of access to the public with a cost effective service. The development plans take account of national policy which is to have a strong network of local and general hospitals which serve defined catchment hospital services for general, medical and surgical facilities.
Pending completion of these developments the hospital has a limited capacity to respond internally to the increase in demands presented due to its physical design and structure and lack of access to alternatives to in-patient services.
The following measures are proposed to be implemented with a view to redressing the difficulties experienced in the hospital: development of a four bed medical assessment/observation unit; redesignation of bed allocation between specialties in the hospital – medical, surgical and gynaecology including the redesignation of four gynaecological beds as surgical beds; provision of enhanced community supports including home help, home care and direct access to convalescent care in private nursing homes to facilitate early discharge and development of the role of the bed management group at consultant level to review on a scheduled basis the impact of these measures. I trust the Deputy will understand why the board has had to take a range of measures to meet the exigencies of the current situation and in the interests of the future development of the hospital.
The board has assured me that it recognises there is a need to provide for the ongoing monitoring of activity in St. Luke's Hospital and the impact of these measures on bed management and utilisation in the hospital.
