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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Seymour Crawford

Seymour Crawford

Seymour Crawford

Question:

638 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money which has been spent on capital and equipment in each of the five hospital sites in each of the past five years in the North-Eastern Health Board area; if he is satisfied that Monaghan General Hospital, serving an area with 100 miles of border with Northern Ireland is being funded equitably to provide a proper service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2247/02]

Micheál Martin

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to capital and equipment expenditure in each of the five hospital sites in each of the past five years in the North-Eastern Health Board region is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as speedily as possible. I visited Monaghan General Hospital recently and I met hospital management and staff and representatives of local groups. I was happy to be in a position to allay any concerns with regard to the future development of the hospital.

A significant level of capital investment in Monaghan General Hospital is proposed in the short-term; plans are being advanced by the North-Eastern Health Board for the development and upgrading of the high-dependency unit at the hospital, in addition to substantial upgrading and refurbishment of ward accommodation, the development of the treatment and minor injuries unit and the development of a midwifery led unit. The associated capital cost is of the order of 7 million. I am advised by the board that the development of new consultant-led services in dermatology and geriatric medicine at the hospital is planned and I regard this as evidence of the commitment of the board to continued investment in the development of services on the hospital campus.
I have announced the immediate commissioning process for an additional 709 acute hospital beds in public hospitals nationwide at a cost of 65 million in the current year. This is the first phase in the provision of the additional 3,000 acute hospital beds by 2011. Thirty eight of the additional 709 public hospital beds will be provided in the North-Eastern Health Board region with ten of these being provided in Monaghan General Hospital. All of the additional bed capacity at the hospital will be designated for public patients and will allow the hospital to significantly increase activity levels for its public patients. I am satisfied that the proposed development of additional consultant-led services at the hospital, together with the provision of additional bed capacity and the proposed significant level of capital investment is tangible evidence of additional funding for the provision of acute hospital services to the catchment area population served by the hospital.
Seymour Crawford

Seymour Crawford

Seymour Crawford

Question:

639 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of consultants, doctors, nurses, administrators and others who were employed in Monaghan General Hospital in 1990, 1996 and to date in 2002. [2248/02]

Micheál Martin

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The staffing levels for Monaghan General Hospital as requested by the Deputy for 31 December 1990, 1996 and 2000 are as set out in the following Table. Information in respect of 31 December 2001 is being collated by health services employers at present and will be available in the coming months when the 2001 health service personnel census is published.

Monaghan General Hospital – staffing (wte's)

1990

1996

2000

Maintenance Technical

Chargehand

1

General Operative

1

1

Maintenance Helper

1

3

1

Management/admin

Clerical Officer

25.45

Grade II (obsolete)

8

9

Grade III (obsolete)

3

5

Grade IV

1

2

2

Grade V

1

1

Grade VI

1

Grade VII

1

1

Supplies Officer Grade C

1

Supplies Officer Grade D

2

1

Telephonist

1.54

1

1

Telephonist, Night

0.94

14.54

21.94

32.45
Monaghan General Hospital – staffing (wte's)–contd.

1990

1996

2000

Medical/Dental

Consultant/Anaesthetics

1

2.48

3.5

Consultant/Obstetrics/Gynaecology

1

1

2

Consultant/Paediatrics

0.18

Consultant/Physician

2

2

3

Consultant/Radiology

1

2

Consultant/Surgery

1

2

3

House Officer

9.46

House Officer, Senior

10.25

14.8

Intern

4

Registrar

1

3

6

20.64

22.73

32.3

Nursing

Assistant Director of Nursing (obsolete)

1

1

Assistant Director of Nursing 2

1

Clinical Nurse Manager 2

7

6

8

Clinical Nurse Manager 2 –Theatre

1

1

Clinical Nurse Manager 3 – Night

2

2

2

Director of Nursing (obsolete)

1

1

Director of Nursing 3

1

Dual Qualified Nurse

8.92

18.57

Staff Nurse – General

85.26

84.68

78.82

97.26

104.6

109.39

Paramedical

Dietician

1

Medical Laboratory Technician

4.3

2

4.5

Medical Laboratory Technician,Senior

1

0.5

Medical Laboratory Technologist

1

1

1

Pharmacist, Senior

1

1.4

1

Physiotherapist

1

2

1

Physiotherapist, Senior

1

1

2

Radiographer

3.3

2.06

5.7

Radiographer, Senior

1

1

Radiographer, Supt. I

1

1

Radiographer, Supt. III

1

13.6

12.46

17.7

Support Services

Boilerman

1

1

2

Catering Officer Grade I

1

Catering Officer, Grade III

1

1

Chaplain

0.3

0.5

Chef I

1

1

0.5

Chef II

1

1

2.95

Gardener/Groundsman

1

Nursing Auxillary/Orderly

63.18

53.5

59.24

Porter, Theatre

1

1

Storeperson

1

70.48

58

66.69

Total

216.52

222.73

259.53
Note 1: All figures are expressed as wholetime equivalents.
Note 2: Figures supplied are as recorded in the annual Health Service Personnel which is recorded at 31 December each year.
Seymour Crawford

Seymour Crawford

Seymour Crawford

Question:

640 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds which were in each of the five North-Eastern Health Board hospitals in each of the years 1990, 1996 and to date in January 2002; if the beds announced for Monaghan General Hospital will be additional beds or replacements for some of those already closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2249/02]

Micheál Martin

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The North-Eastern Health Board is responsible for the provision of acute hospital services in its functional area. I have, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the board to furnish the Deputy directly with the information which he requires in relation to the number of beds at the five hospital sites.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, at the request of the board and in the context of the national review of acute hospital bed capacity which I recently launched, I was happy to set aside indicative funding of 2.379 million revenue and 0.473 million capital for the board for additional bed capacity at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan (14 beds) Louth County Hospital, Dundalk (14 beds) and Monaghan General Hospital (ten beds). This funding is in addition to the board's determination of 450.053 million for the current year for the maintenance and continued development of existing services and for the provision and development of new services. The provision of the ten beds at Monaghan represents an increase in the number of medical admission beds at the hospital and will also provide an opportunity to improve the special care and coronary care facility, requested by consultant physicians.

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