Vol. 547 No. 3
234 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health and Children the services which will continue to be provided in Monaghan General Hospital; the new services it is intended to provide; the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3429/02]
Responsibility for the provision of services at Monaghan General Hospital rests with the North-Eastern Health Board. It is a matter for the board to determine service provision at the hospital in line with its commitment to the provision of a high quality, efficient and cost effective service as outlined in its strategy document for the development of acute hospital services in its region, North East Hospitals – The Next Five Years – A Framework For Continuing Development.
The Deputy will be aware that I visited Monaghan General Hospital recently and met hospital management and staff and representatives of local groups.
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 also planned in the near future.
I have announced the immediate commissioning process for an additional 709 acute hospital beds in public hospitals nation-wide 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. Some 38 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 the proposed development of additional consultant-led services, together with the provision of additional bed capacity and the proposed significant level of capital investment reflects the board's commitment to the provision and development of acute hospital services to the catchment area population served by Monaghan General Hospital
