Hospital Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004

Tuesday, 19 October 2004

Questions (179, 180)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

311 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position concerning the proposed new community hospital for Tuam, County Galway; her views on whether a community hospital in Tuam is seen by her Department as being of great strategic value in the delivery of a better hospital and medical service to the people of Tuam and the outlying areas; her further views on the construction of the community hospital in Tuam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25551/04]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in County Galway rests with the Western Health Board in the first instance. The board has identified the need for a new community hospital in Tuam as one of its priorities for capital funding. My Department will continue to liaise with the board with regard to this project in line with the board's priorities for capital investment and having regard to resources available to my Department under the capital investment framework 2004-08.

Liz McManus

Question:

312 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the resignation of two high profile nurses from the renal team at Our Lady’s Hospital, both citing frustration with the lack of support from hospital management; if the hospital will have recruited a replacement nurse before the renal CNS has reached the end of his or her notice period; the reason the new renal ward has not yet opened; her views on whether it is appropriate that a renal patient should have to share a room with three other patients when dialysis should be carried out under aseptic conditions; her further views on whether it is acceptable that a parent must ask visitors with a patient in the cot next to the parent’s child to move to enable the parent to set up their child’s dialysis and then queue to use the only sink in the ward; if, in the planning for the Nazareth ward’s long-term closure, a risk assessment was carried out for this interim set up; if there is an up to date safety statement taking into account the new use of this space; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25556/04]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Services at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to examine the issues raised and to reply to the Deputy directly.