asked the Minister for Health, if he has received any complaints regarding the cleaning and maintenance service in St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, and if so, the action being taken to remedy these complaints.
185.
Written Answers. - St. Ita's Hospital (Dublin).
184.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate laundry service at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, and the measures being taken to rectify the situation.
186.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the heating facilities at the new 72-bed unit at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, which are defective and the measures, if any, being taken to remedy the situation.
187.
asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, for replacing the temporary buildings at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin.
188.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of nurses employed at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, the present nursing staff/patient ratio, and if he has satisfied himself with the present position regarding nursing staff.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 188, inclusively together.
It is proposed to relocate the patients in the temporary buildings at St. Ita's Hospital in renovated accommodation within the hospital or in accommodation which the health board may acquire elsewhere. In recent months patients have been withdrawn from two of the six temporary buildings.
The air filtering system in the heating installation in the new 72-bed unit has given rise to problems. The health board are in discussion with the contractor and their consulting engineer with a view to eliminating the problems which have arisen.
Representatives of the Parents and Friends Association from the hospital raised certain matters in relation to the cleaning and maintenance services at the hospital. Subsequent to that meeting the Eastern Health Board have now arranged that two three-man teams of attendants will be assigned full-time to cleaning duties at the hospital.
In regard to general maintenance works, I am not satisfied with the present level of such activity at the hospital and I am at present considering a proposal from the health board for additional funds to enable a number of urgent works to be undertaken next year.
The general laundry services at the hospital are not satisfactory and the health board have made arrangements for the installation in the near future of new equipment.
There are 482 nurses employed at St. Ita's Hospital, which represents a ratio of one nurse to 2.4 patients. As there is a problem in recruiting nurses for the hospital, the health board have recruitment and the general nursing complement at the hospital under consideration.