Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

255 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines and procedures which his Department may have in respect of discharge and admission policies for general hospitals; if he, his Department or a hospital (details supplied) have made a change to hospital admission and discharge policies in 2001; if so, the nature of these; if he will investigate this policy in respect of this hospital; the reason the resources of the hospital are insufficient to meet the needs of its catchment area; if it is consistent with admission and discharge policy for the hospital to discharge an 89 year old person suffering from pneumonia; if it is consistent with admission and discharge policy to discharge an 87 year old person with a torn ligament in their back and who lives alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5464/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Health boards have responsibility for the discharge planning function in their respective areas, in conjunction with individual hospitals. The decision to discharge a patient from hospital to home is a matter for the patient's consultant, based on clinical judgment and assessment of the patient's condition. In respect of the individual cases referred to by the Deputy, it is not possible for the authority to investigate the issues involved in the absence of their particular details. I am conscious of the need for ongoing investment in the discharge planning function. The Deputy may be aware that funding of €40.63 million, £32 million, was approved to help alleviate service pressures and to maintain services to patients. Funding to facilitate improved efficiency in the discharge planning and bed management function was included in this investment package. This was designed to eliminate any avoidable delays in the patient assessment process prior to discharge home or transfer to an alternative setting. In addition, I announced, in January 2002, the commissioning of an additional 709 acute beds in public hospitals at a cost of €65 million. This represents the first phase of the provision of 3,000 additional acute beds by 2011 as announced in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System For You. The increase in bed capacity will allow the hospital system to significantly increase activity levels for public patients in the current year.

Willie Penrose

Question:

256 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be admitted to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, for an MRI scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5487/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Responsibility for the provision of health services to persons living in County Westmeath rests with the Midland Health Board in the first instance. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Questions Nos. 257 to 261, inclusive, answered with Question No. 211.