Vol. 564 No. 5
288 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in respect of the ?40.36 million winter initiative announced by him in November 2000; the number of additional accident and emergency consultants appointed to date; the number of additional consultant anaesthetists appointed to date; the progress on the additional areas detailed in his announcement of that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9969/03]
The Deputy will be aware that I announced a €40.63 million investment package aimed at alleviating service pressures and maintaining services to patients, particularly in the acute hospital sector, over the winter period 2000-2001. The investment package was targeted at a number of areas, including recruitment of additional accident and emergency consultants and consultant anaesthetists contracting of places in private nursing homes for patients who had completed the acute phase of treatment. My Department has been advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) and by the health boards that, to date, an additional 19 accident and emergency consultants and 18 consultant anaesthetists have been appointed under this initiative. A number of additional consultant appointments are being progressed by the health boards and ERHA.
In addition, more than 700 additional private nursing home places were purchased by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards under this initiative for patients whose acute phase of treatment had been completed, but who required additional care in an alternative setting.
