asked the Minister for Health the number of patients it is possible to accommodate in the Richmond Hospital, Dublin; whether plans for the building of a new hospital to replace the present Richmond Hospital have reached his Department; if so, on what date; when he expects to be in a position to give his decision on this proposal; if plans have reached his Department for a new nurses' home for the Richmond Hospital; if so, on what date; and when he expects to make a decision on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Richmond Hospital, Dublin.
7.
I assume that in referring to the Richmond Hospital, the Deputy has in mind the institutions formerly known as the Richmond, Whitworth and Hardwicke Hospitals and now constituting St. Laurence's Hospital. The information requested by the Deputy in regard to that hospital is as follows:—
The bed complement of St. Laurence's Hospital is 366. In periods of pressure the number of in-patients may be close to this number. The average bed-occupancy for 1963, however, was 319.
The provision of a new St. Laurence's Hospital on the site acquired at Cabra was one of the major projects included in the postwar hospital building programme. Planning had reached an advanced stage when the difficulties of the financial situation, which reached critical proportions in 1956, forced the Government of the time to curtail and eventually withdraw the Exchequer grants-in-aid of the Hospitals Trust Fund that were necessary to enable the approved building programme to be carried through as scheduled. In the re-assessment of the position which was then necessary, it was not found possible to proceed with more than two of the four major hospital building projects for the Dublin area which were included in the original programme. As the Deputy will be aware, work is at present in progress on those two projects, namely the new St. Vincent's and new Coombe Hospitals. The St. Laurence's Hospital project is one of those which are constantly under review in relation to the position of the Hospitals Trust Fund.
Plans for a new nurses' home were included in the plans for a new hospital to which I referred earlier. Tentative proposals in regard to the location of a nurses' home at the existing hospital were also made in an outline scheme submitted subsequently by the hospital authorities for a hospital based on the present site. The question of proceeding with the erection of a nurses' home depends on where the new St. Laurence's Hospital will be located and a final decision has not yet been reached on this matter. Less than a week ago, my Department received a request from the hospital authorities for my approval in principle to the renting of premises to house members of the nursing and resident medical staff. A decision on this matter will be conveyed to the hospital authority as soon as possible.
Can the Minister tell us how much money has been spent to date on consultants' fees for planning a new hospital and nurses' home?
That is an entirely separate question which it would require some research to answer. I suggest the Deputy put it down at a later date.
Has the Minister visited this hospital or has he any idea of what the staff accommodation is?
The Deputy seems to be under a misapprehension. It is no part of my function to visit hospitals. I am not an inspector or a supervisor. I have a competent office staff to do that. I have not visited this hospital any more than I have visited each one of the other 400 hospitals in the 26 Counties.
Is it not right to say that the Minister has a particular responsibility for the Richmond Hospital, in view of the fact that he appoints the members of the board?
I have, but if I appoint people and delegate functions to them, it is not surely necessary for me to hold their hand.
8.
asked the Minister for Health how many vacancies there are at present on the board of the Richmond Hospital; and when he intends to fill these vacancies.
Under the terms of a Ministerial Order made in 1950, the maximum number of members of the Board of St. Laurence's Hospital is 21. At present the number of members is 17.
I am considering certain matters in connection with the government of this hospital, including the appropriate number of members of the board.
Has the Minister any record of the attendance of the members who are still supposed to be on this board?
I have, yes.
Can the Minister give us any idea of the attendance?
If the Deputy puts down another question, I will answer that; but I must say that I do not think it is really a matter for investigation in this House as to how many times any member of the board attends. I have written to those members who I think have not been very consistent in their attendance, and I have suggested to them that if the responsibility of being a member of the board imposes too much of a burden on their time, they might consider resigning.
Can the Minister tell the House when some progress will be made?
When I get enough money to enable me to build a new hospital, we shall make some progress.