Written Answers. - Hospitals Building Programme.
Ivor Callely
Question:
102
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the progress made to ensure adequate hospital facilities on the northside of the city of Dublin; the capital projects which are under consideration in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7876/01]
Responsibility for the provision of health services in counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
The authority has acknowledged the need to increase the number of beds within the entire region and the northside of Dublin city has been identified as a particular priority. A feasibility study will be carried out in 2001 to clearly identify where these beds should be located in the best interest of the patient and in line with best practice.
In addition, the ERHA acknowledges the need to improve the quality of service within the existing hospital facilities. To this end a number of reviews have been or will be undertaken in relation to the following areas: A and E services; bed capacity; renal dialysis services; out-patient services; intensive care facilities; and MRI services.
The capital projects which have been approved and are currently in various stages of implementation on the existing hospital sites are as follows:
James Connolly Memorial HospitalApproval to proceed with redevelopment of the hospital was issued in September 2000. Construction is currently under way and the target completion date is early 2003. Phase 1 of this development includes the following departments-facilities: ward block; department of rheumatology; coronary care; intensive care; psychiatric department; surgical day unit; operating theatres; accident and emergency; mortuary and post-mortem; and waste marshalling.
Mater HospitalFunding has been provided in the national development plan for the redevelopment of the Mater campus to include expanded and improved facilities for the existing Mater hospital and the building of a new children's hospital which would replace the Children's Hospital at Temple Street.
The design brief has been completed and approved by my Department and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The main clinical areas to be provided in the development are an accident and emergency department; an out-patient day care and ambulatory care facilities; operating theatres including day surgery; heart lung facilities; ITU-HDU; pathology; diagnostic imaging; 80 additional beds; pharmacy; and a new children's hospital.
Beaumont HospitalA sum of £25 million was approved for a major equipping and refurbishment programme which is currently in progress. Funding has also been approved to enhance the renal dialysis services.
Rotunda HospitalIn 2000 a capital grant of £4.5 million was approved for capital works at this hospital. These works include the amalgamation of the paediatric unit with the neonatal intensive care unit and work on the third floor extension. The hospital has recently tendered for the work as approved and the design team's report on the tenders received is being considered.
Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of IrelandThe project team has recently completed its review of the brief for phase 2 of the hospital development. It is proposed that this development will include one 32 bed ward to replace the orthopaedic rehabilitation beds in the veranda ward and two additional 32 bed wards to provide secondary rehabilitation for older persons together with physiotherapy-occupational therapy-speech therapy and other support facilities. The updated brief has been received and a request to advertise for a design team to progress the development is now being considered.
I should also add that approval in principle has recently been given to the Eastern Regional Health Authority to purchase St. Joseph's Private Hospital, Raheny, Dublin. A range of services are being considered for the site, including the provision of specialist and day care services with the aim of reducing the number of public patients currently on waiting lists for treatment.
Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 100.
