Vol. 550 No. 4
412 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds which were in use in Cavan General Hospital in 1997; the number which are in use in 2002 taking into account that most of the gynaecological and maternity patients have been transferred from Monaghan General Hospital to that hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8974/02]
413 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds which were in use in Monaghan General Hospital in 1997; the number which are in use in 2002 taking into account the closure of the maternity and gynaecological services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8975/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together.
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 two 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 €473,000 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.
