Michael Ring
Question:117 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a rheumatologist will be appointed to Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo. [30113/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
The question of appointing an additional rheumatologist to the Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, is a matter for the Western Health Board in the first instance. Any additional appointments will be considered in 2002 in the context of the availability of development funding for acute hospital services and the board's overall prioritisation of their development requirements.
John Perry
Question:118 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps which have been put in place regarding the reduction in the allocation of funding to the North-Western Health Board to ensure that the 30 additional beds in Sligo General Hospital will be secured; the way in which this will be redressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30114/01]
I would like to refute the Deputy's suggestion that there has been a reduction in the allocation of funding to the North-Western Health Board in respect of the provision of additional beds at Sligo General Hospital.
The Deputy will be aware that a comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs has been conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. On foot of that review, the Government has decided in the context of the new health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System For You, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. A total of 650 of these beds will be in place by the end of 2002.
In this regard my Department has been in discussion in recent months with the North-Western Health Board with a view to identifying potential to increase the number of acute hospital beds in the region. The board submitted a proposal to increase the bed complement at Sligo General Hospital by 30 beds. On foot of this submission I was pleased to provide additional funding of £375,000 to the North-Western Health Board to increase the capacity of the acute hospital system in the region in the current year to respond to identified service pressures.
The additional level of funding required for this initiative in 2002 will be determined in discussion with the board and on foot of decisions in relation to next years Estimates provision.
Michael Creed
Question:119 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the pro vision of radiotherapy treatment at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; the number of patients being sent to Southampton and elsewhere in the United Kingdom for treatment by the hospital; the cost of each treatment per patient; the reason for the delay in establishing this service in St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30128/01]
Services, including radiotherapy services, at St. James's Hospital are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive of the authority to reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.