Bernard J. Durkan
Question:604 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will direct a reversal of the plans to close the tuberculosis and respiratory units at Peamount Hospital, Newcastle, County Dublin, on the basis of a lack of alternative facilities for patients likely to seek treatment there; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern and damage done to public confidence in the system by the refusal to admit a patient suffering from a particularly virulent form of tuberculosis and a subsequent reversal of that decision; if he has confidence in the manner and method of arriving at the initial decision; if his attention has further been drawn to the serious deficit in terms of delivery of health services likely to be caused in the event of the closure if allowed to proceed; the way in which it is expected to provide the services currently available at Peamount when it is clearly evident that such services are not likely to be provided in a similar specialised way with the necessary isolation facilities in any other hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11882/04]
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