asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the policy in relation to future surgical facilities to be maintained in Dungarvan, County Waterford.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dungarvan Medical Services.
2.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the long-term policy in relation to maternity care and facilities for the people living in and around Dungarvan, County Waterford.
4.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the policy to be pursued in the matter of medical care and facilities in Dungarvan, County Waterford.
5.
asked the Minister for Health if he will give immediate sanction to the provision of a temporary maternity unit in St. Vincent's District Hospital, Dungarvan, County Waterford, in accordance with the resolution passed at the recent meeting of the South-East Regional Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 5 together.
At present there is a 36-bed district hospital in Dungarvan which caters, to the extent to which it can do so, for patients from the vicinity. The role of district hospitals in the future hospital system was considered by the Consultative Council on the General Hospital Services. In its report, which I have accepted in principle, the council considered that, in a reorganised hospital system district hospitals should have a rather different role in the provision of services. The council recommended that such hospitals should become homes staffed by general practitioners from the area and would provide a service for normal maternity patients and for medical patients of the type who would usually be treated in their own homes by general practitioners, if the circumstances of the patient were suitable. Surgery in the homes would be limited to procedures normally carried out by an individual general practitioner alone. In addition, the homes would provide accommodation for patients from the main hospital centres during convalescence and also for some geriatric patients. The homes would be closely associated with the main hospital centres and would be visited regularly by consultants from the main hospital centre who would conduct out-patient specialist clinics there and see patients in the homes when so requested by the doctors having care of such patients.
The implementation of the detailed recommendations in the council's report will be a matter for consideration, in the case of Dungarvan, by the South-Eastern Health Board, when established. To meet the most pressing problems of the area, the health board have decided to transfer surgery to Ardkeen Hospital and, as a temporary measure, to establish a four-bed maternity unit in the district hospital. Certain proposals have been made as to how the facilities should be provided and a technical meeting has been arranged for Friday next in Dungarvan to discuss the details. A decision will be given without delay following that meeting. In addition, the board are considering the provision of facilities for the holding of regular out-patient clinics by a consultant obstetrician from Waterford city.
The long-term needs of the district have yet to be considered by the health board, in the light of the Consultative Council's report.
Is the Minister aware that there is great concern in Dungarvan about the lack of maternity accommodation there? Will he not agree that the Department is holding up the establishment of a proper unit at the district hospital?
We are not holding up anything. We are having a meeting on Friday to discuss the details after the health board have made the final decision.
The health board have decided to ask for the establishment of the prefab unit on the ground. Is the Minister prepared to accept that resolution?
It all depends on the technical meeting arranged for Friday next.
In relation to surgical facilities, again there is concern. A surgeon should be at hand at Dungarvan to deal with accident cases.
It was the health board that made the decision to transfer surgery to Ardkeen Hospital.