Vol. 534 No. 1
73 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a report from the South Eastern Health Board that three women miscarried while waiting to be admitted to the gynaecological ward of St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10001/01]
The provision of services at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, is the statutory responsibility of the South Eastern Health Board. I understand from the board that the first of the three patients referred to by the Deputy presented to the hospital on 16 November 2000 at approximately 2 p.m. There was no emergency bed available and all the female beds in the hospital were full. As a result the hospital set up a bed in the corridor for this patient and screened off the bed from observation by others. The patient miscarried at 11 p.m. that night and was transferred to theatre and the gynaecological ward the next morning.
The second patient was admitted for emergency care on 5 December 2000. On the previous day, 4 December 2000, nine elective patients were admitted for surgery on 5 December 2000. At the time of admission of the patient, all beds in the gynaecology ward were full. The patient had to be maintained in a bed on the corridor and screens were provided around the bed to improve privacy.
The third patient was not admitted to the corridor. This patient was given a bed in the obstetrics unit where she miscarried. It was the only bed available to her at that time.
The South Eastern Health Board very much regrets these incidents. I understand that the board has reviewed its admission policy and strengthened the role of the bed manager at the hospital with a view to ensuring that similar cases do not arise in the future.
The Deputy will be aware that a national review of bed capacity in both the acute and non-acute settings is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. I presented the interim findings of the review to Government last year and identified a range of immediate investment proposals aimed at addressing identified service difficulties.
The second phase of the national bed review is now under way and involves the development of a longer term investment strategy for the acute and non-acute sectors. The review will also involve a detailed assessment of need, including an analysis of future bed requirements by medical and surgical speciality. This phase of the review is due to be completed in April 2001.
