asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the severe overcrowding at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, and his proposals to rectify the situation.
179.
Written Answers. - St. Loman's Hospital, Dublin.
178.
asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the present nursing staff complement at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, is adequate for patient care.
180.
asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the training facilities presently provided at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, for trainee psychiatric nurses.
181.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the acutely disturbed patients at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, who are being cared for in many cases by non-nursing personnel due to the shortage of trained nursing staff and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 181, inclusive, together.
I am aware that, with 179 adult beds and 42 children's beds, there is a degree of overcrowding in St. Loman's Hospital. However a number of measures are being taken to rectify this situation. The conversion of a staff residence to provide an additional 15 places in a new patient unit has been approved and should be ready for occupation by the end of this year.
The provision of a specialised 40-bed children's unit on the Cherry Orchard Hospital site has been approved. This is in the process of being planned and the eventual transfer of the children to this unit will provide accommodation for approximately 40 additional adult beds in St. Loman's.
In addition to the above developments the provision of a special unit in the Ballyfermot industrial estate to provide day hospital facilities for St. Loman's catchment areas has been approved. Negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of this unit. Provision for a hostel at Fonthill for discharged patients from St. Loman's has also been approved.
There are 117 psychiatric nurses (including seven trainee nurses) employed in the adult service in St. Loman's—20 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 post-graduate course at the hospital, they will also carry out nursing duties.
The reports I have received indicate that a satisfactory level of nursing care is being provided for patients in the hospital, including those acutely disturbed. While there is a shortage of nurses, it is not such as to significantly affect the level of care of the patients. There are trained nurses in all wards in the hospital whose services are supplemented by auxiliary staff.
St. Loman's Hospital is not a nurse training hospital but some trainees from other hospitals undergo practical training there. I am satisfied that the facilities for this at St. Loman's Hospital are adequate.
182.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby patients at St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin, are being taken from their beds at 6.30 a.m. to make room for fellow patients and out-patients requiring electroconvulsive therapy, if he has satisfied himself with this arrangement, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have made inquiries about the arrangements referred to by the Deputy and I agree that they are not satisfactory. I have asked the Eastern Health Board to let me have proposals for the improvement of the position as soon as possible.