Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Hospital Services.

Denis Naughten

Question:

457 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 11 March 2003, the cost of maintaining a patient in a long-stay hospital bed run by the Western Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7916/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Callely)

The Western Health Board has supplied the under-mentioned figures in respect of the daily cost of maintaining a patient in the board's geriatric hospitals and community nursing units. The costs are based on 2001 figures as the 2002 accounts audit is not yet finalised.

Hospital/Community Nursing Unit	Gross Daily Cost	Net Daily Cost(i.e. Gross Cost less Income)
	€	€
Sacred Heart Castlebar	108.33	87.27
Sacred Heart Roscommon	113.97	97.60
St Brendan's Loughrea	97.26	80.16
Boyle	86.62	68.27
Achill	183.06	158.43
Carraroe	96.85	78.53
Claremorris	81.51	66.05
Newcastle	86.55	69.43
Westport	82.64	63.59
Clifden	145.49	125.29
Ballina	75.91	57.52
Tuam	103.66	85.78
Castlerea	95.76	76.95

In some cases, figures include the cost of outpatient, casualty and day care facilities and, consequently, the figures are not strictly comparable.

Denis Naughten

Question:

458 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to address the physical shortfalls at the Crumlin Hospital in view of the Pollock report on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7917/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

As the Deputy is aware, the Eastern Regional Health Authority is charged with responsibility for commissioning health and personal social services on behalf of the population of the region, and also on behalf of those outside the region who are referred for specialist treatment.

I met in recent weeks with the New Crumlin Hospital Group, which is composed of parents of children who regularly attend Crumlin Hospital for treatment. It was this group that commissioned the Pollock report into facilities at Crumlin.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, on foot of an acknowledgement by all parties of the need for an overall development of the facilities at Crumlin Hospital, last year I approved the establishment of a project team to plan for the future development of the hospital. The team includes representatives from the hospital, the Eastern Regional Health Authority, and the Department of Health and Children.

Many of the buildings comprised within the hospital are approximately 50 years old, and have not been upgraded in any significant way over that period. As a result, they do not now generally meet contemporary standards for paediatric hospital facilities.

The first stage of the planning process involves writing a brief for the preparation of a development control plan which will set the context for future capital developments on the site. Work on the preparation of the development brief has commenced, and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2003.

It is intended that a phased approach to new development and the upgrade of facilities will be taken. The plans will allow for the prioritisation of developments according to the service needs of the hospital and the ERHA. A phased approach will ensure that services continue to be provided at the hospital during the redevelopment.

A number of additional major developments, funded by the Exchequer, are currently being put in place at the hospital. These include a €30 million investment in the new operating department which will provide two additional theatres, increasing the capacity of the hospital to five major theatres and two minor theatres. Included in this development are new recovery beds, a day surgery unit and a modern central sterile supplies department. This development is expected to increase the capacity of the hospital to meet the additional surgery demands at both in-patient and out-patient level.

In addition, on the basis of the volume and complexity of cases being dealt with at the hospital, I have approved the provision of an MRI facility at Crumlin which will significantly enhance the level of diagnostic services provided for children. The project team is currently engaged in the process of identifying the most appropriate location for this service in the context of the overall development plan for the hospital.