asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the number of beds which will be required for geriatrics in (a) County Donegal and (b) Inishowen; and the steps being taken to provide them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Geriatric Beds.
89.
On the basis of the recommendations made in the 1968 Report on the Care of the Aged the approximate number of beds required for geriatric cases in County Donegal would be 220 in long-stay hospital units and 280 in welfare homes, of which 48 of the former and 63 of the latter would be for Inishowen. These figures do not cover a small area in south Donegal which is assessed as part of the Sligo catchment area.
There are 235 long-stay beds in St. Joseph's Home, Stranorlar, which, of course, caters for Inishowen also. Geriatric cases are also accommodated in the district hospitals and the health board have made arrangements with the Nazareth Home, Fahan, to reserve six of their 12 geriatric beds for health board patients. Two 40-bed welfare homes are in planning, with the approval of my Department, for Ramelton and Falcarragh, and I understand that the board have approved in principle of the provision of three further 40-bed welfare homes at Buncrana, Glenties and Donegal.
The major extension which is in planning for Letterkenny General Hospital will include geriatric assessment beds to cater for the area. When the extended hospital is completed the health board plans to reclassify district hospital accommodation now in use for acute purposes as geriatric accommodation. With these various plans implemented the health board should satisfy the needs of the county, including Inishowen, for geriatric accommodation.