asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Western Health Board are sending all hospital laundry to a Dublin city establishment; and if he will take steps to ensure that this work is done in the western region.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Laundry Work.
3.
It is not correct to say that the Western Health Board are sending all hospital laundry to Dublin. In fact, they send only about half the laundry requirements of two of the board's hospitals, that is to say, Galway Regional and Merlin Park Hospitals, to the Central Laundry at Rathfarnham, Dublin. This is a recent arrangement and was entered into at the board's request because the laundries in the two hospitals mentioned were unable to cope with the laundry needs of the hospitals. It is not intended that this should be a permanent arrangement. The question of laundry services for this and other areas is at present being actively reviewed.
Would the Minister agree that all the flat work from those two hospitals is being sent to a laundry in Dublin? Flat work, in laundry terms, I understand, means sheets and things like that. Would the Minister not consider this a retrograde step? This work could have been done in Galway city where there are two fully equipped laundries. Would the Minister be concerned at this trend?
Yes, but I think the Deputy must be aware of the functions of the Hospitals Joint Services Board who are charged with providing such a service initially for Dublin and, if necessary, for the whole country. There are discussions going on at present with regard to the possibility of the establishment of laundries similar to that in Rathfarnham in Cork and in Galway. There is no finality as yet.
Would the Minister not consider that this action on the part of the Western Health Board completely contradicts the whole spirit and aim of decentralisation?
But this was done at the request of the Western Health Board who said that they could not do all the laundry themselves. They do not intend to continue this and consideration is being given to the establishment of a similar type of service in Cork and in Galway. I presume the Deputy's point is that he would prefer that any laundry to be done would be done in the local laundries.
Certainly.
That is certainly not within the spirit of the Act which provided for the establishment of the joint hospitals services board.
This is a retrograde step and I am surprised that the Minister is showing such little concern in the matter.
I did not introduce this legislation.
No, but the Minister should express some concern at the way it is being operated.
I am satisfied at present with the way it is being operated.
It is disgraceful to hear that from the Minister.