Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospitals Building Programme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

150 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the Naas General Hospital development plan; when he expects all the facilities to be available for commissioning; if this is likely to be on time or ahead of schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31166/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

151 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the extent to which cost overruns have occurred in the course of the Naas General Hospital development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31167/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.

As part of a major investment package, capital funding under the national development plan has been provided for phases two and three of the major development at Naas General Hospital. Phase two commenced on site in November 1999. This element of the project is approximately 20 weeks behind schedule. However, it is anticipated that it will be completed within budget in August 2002 and that commissioning will commence immediately on completion.

Phase two will provide enhanced bed capacity for the hospital and includes the following facilities: main entrance concourse, administration – part, medical records department, chaplaincy department, outpatients department, accident and emergency department, physical medicine department, radiology department, pharmacy department, geriatric day hospital, operating department, day services department, intensive care and coronary care units, inpatients wards, geriatric rehabilitation and assessment ward, staff changing, brought forward from phase three, on call accommodation, brought forward from phase three and stores brought forward from phase three.

Phase three will complete the total hospital development and will include construction and completion of the following departments: administration – completion, pathology, hospital sterile supplies department, central supplies department, catering department, engineering and maintenance department, day services – permanent, physical medicine – permanent, outpatients department – completion, mortuary and post-mortem facilities and waste management department. Construction is targeted to commence in 2002 with completion in 2004.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent by which the number of general medical and surgical beds have increased or decreased in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31168/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The number of general medical and surgical beds decreased from 13,753 in 1990 to 11,862 in 2000. Approximately 2,000 beds were removed from the system between 1991 and 1993. The number of beds has remained relatively unchanged since 1993.

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.