asked the Minister for Health the total number of patient beds at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, and the number of psychiatric nurses employed.
252.
Written Answers. - Palmerstown (County Dublin) Hospital.
249.
asked the Minister for Health when the new patient unit at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, will become operational and when it is proposed to recruit nursing staff to service this unit.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 252 together.
There are 179 adult beds in St. Loman's Hospital and a further 42 beds in the children's unit. Nursing care is provided by 117 psychiatric nurses, including seven trainee nurses, in the adult service. Twenty psychiatric nurses and six State Enrolled Nurses are employed in the children's unit.
A further group of 12 nurses comprising general trained and mental handicap nurses are being recruited for a postgraduate course at the hospital; they will also carry out nursing duties.
It is proposed that the new patient unit at the hospital will be operational by the end of this year. Staff for the new unit are now being recruited by the health board.