Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 4

Written Answers. - Renal Services.

Noel Ahern

Question:

140 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of kidney dialysis machines here; their location; the cost of each machine; and the reason the hospitals in Dublin seem to have patients who travel considerable distances a few times a week from rural areas. [24661/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number, location and cost of kidney dialysis machines is not routinely collected by my Department. However, I have requested the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief executive officers of the health boards to collate the information and forward it to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

I take this opportunity to outline to the Deputy the policy position in relation to the wider development of renal services. I have identified renal services as one of the main acute hospital priorities for development. In this regard, I was pleased to provide additional funding of over £9 million – 11.43 million – over the past two years to increase capacity in this area. The prin ciples underpinning this investment are to ensure that haemo-dialysis is available on a regionally self-sufficient basis so that patients do not have to travel long distances to avail of it and to ensure an equitable availability of treatment choice for patients irrespective of their geographical location.

I accept the need for further development of this important service. As a consequence, I will shortly be establishing a group to formulate a national strategy for renal services and to develop a framework for future service delivery which will build on the current investment programme.