asked the Minister for Health if he will immediately sanction the usage of Macroom Chest Hospital, County Cork (a) for the purpose of accommodating ordinary cottage hospital patients or (b) as an annexe to St. Finbarr's Hospital as a home for aged people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Macroom Chest Hospital.
1.
As regards the first part of the question, I take it that the Deputy, in referring to the possibility of reopening St. Colman's Hospital, Macroom, as a cottage hospital, has in mind the type of institution more usually described as a district hospital. There is already a district hospital in Macroom. I am not aware of the need for further accommodation of this category in the area.
With regard to (b), I have already indicated in reply to several previous questions that I am reluctant to agree to the use of St. Colman's Hospital, and other small hospitals in County Cork, to accommodate persons normally accommodated in county homes. I gave my reasons for adopting this attitude and I said that I looked to the Cork Health Authority to prepare a well-considered plan for the hospital needs of their area, when the future of the hospital at Macroom and at other centres could be taken into account. While the Cork Health Authority have submitted proposals for dealing with certain aspects of hospitalisation in the area, I am not satisfied that these proposals measure up to the requirements of the situation.
This whole matter is engaging my close attention at present and, pending a final decision on it, I would not be prepared to approve the use of St. Colman's for the purposes the Deputy has in mind.
Is the Minister aware that for a period of practically ten years this hospital has been maintained by the Cork Health Authority with the bedclothes folded and piled on the beds? It is costing the ratepayers a certain sum of money to maintain this closed institution. Furthermore, is he aware that at a recent meeting of the Cork Health Authority, there was a proposal to spend some £1,400 on the existing cottage hospital, or district hospital, in an effort to find additional accommodation for the normal patients? Further, is he aware that there are a number of aged people from the Macroom district in hospital in Cork city, and if they could be catered for at this vacant institution, their relatives would be able to visit them? Further, is he aware that there is gross overcrowding in Cork hospitals which could be alleviated if this hospital were reopened?
It is a pity the Deputy did not put down his oration as a question and then I could have answered him in detail. The Deputy has said it costs a certain sum to maintain this hospital. While it may cost the Cork Health Authority a certain amount of money to keep this hospital closed and in good condition, it would cost a great deal more if it were opened and wrongfully used.
There are 30 beds lying idle for ten years.
It is a question of Cork's ill-planning.
It is a question of the Minister's doggedness and pigheadedness.