Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
480 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a medical officer has been appointed for the Sacred Heart hospice unit, Castlebar, County Mayo; if there were replies to the recent advertisements for the post; and, if a person has been appointed to the position, when this will be offered. [11153/04]
View answer481 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time the hospice unit in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo, has been closed; when this unit will re-open. [11154/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together.
Responsibility for the provision of health services in County Mayo rests with the Western Health Board in the first instance. The board has advised my Department that the in-patient beds at the hospice unit in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, have not been available since May 2001 due to the absence of a medical officer who would accept medical responsibility for patients occupying these beds. The board has informed my Department there has been no response to the recent re-advertising of the post but that it intends to continue with its efforts to recruit a suitable person for the post.
