Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
196 Mr. McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason two palliative support beds provided at Áras Mhuire in Tuam have not been opened for use; if she will intervene with the Western Health Board to ensure the beds are opened and action be taken to put nursing staff in place and appropriate training provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26737/04]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that in 2003 agreement was reached with the Tuam cancer care group to provide a two-bed unit with a family room to provide a palliative care service to replace the service which had been provided in the Bon Secours Hospital prior to its closure. The structural work is now complete for the setting up of a palliative care suite at Áras Mhuire community nursing unit, Tuam, and funding of €120,000 was provided for 2.5 WTE nursing staff.
The board made a submission to my Department on 13 September 2004 seeking additional funding as follows: provision of RGN services, additional three WTEs, €130,000; and provision of sessional physiotherapy services, €20,000, making a total of €150,000. This matter is under consideration in the context of the Estimates process and in the light of other requests for resources from the Western Health Board. In regard to training I wish to advise that the appropriate training will be provided for nursing staff once these staff are in place.
