Denis Naughten
Question:30. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to fit out the empty surgical day ward at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16901/23]
View answerThursday, 20 April 2023
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Roscommon University Hospital currently has a 12 bed Surgical Day Ward, which is co-located with a medical inpatient ward. It is proposed to relocate the Surgical Day ward in an area adjacent to the Operating Theatre and Endoscopy Unit. As part of this proposal, it is planned that the vacated surgical day ward area in its current location would be used to increase medical inpatient beds. A plan for this is currently under review by HSE Estates before progressing to the design team phase, and this will be progressed in 2023.
The Government is committed to the ongoing development of regional hospitals, and there has been significant additional investment in staffing at RUH in recent years, with a 37.9% increase in staffing numbers since 2018. This includes an additional 72 nurses and midwives. As at February 2023, over 436 staff were employed at RUH. The budget allocation for RUH in 2023 is €31.1 million, an increase of 15.6% from 2018.