asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the people of Limerick city and county have collected a great deal of money to provide a kidney dialysis unit for Limerick but that there will not be sufficient nursing staff available to ensure that the machine will be fully operational when purchased; and if he will take steps to rectify this position.
Written Answers. - County Limerick New Kidney Dialysis Unit.
715.
I am aware of the efforts being made by the people of Limerick city and county to collect money for the provision of a kidney dialysis unit for Limerick Regional Hospital.
While the efforts of the local fundraisers would cover part of the cost of establishing the unit at the hospital the balance would have to be borne by the health board and ultimately by the Exchequer. Very substantial revenue costs would also be incurred in running the unit and these, of course, would be recurring.
A hospital based dialysis unit requires specialised staff including specially trained medical and nursing staff and it was for this reason that dialysis units were provided only in a small number of the larger hospitals. There is also the fact that the current budgetary situation imposes constraints on health agencies which impede the development of services which might otherwise merit consideration. However, my Department have recently decided to re-examine the policy in relation to the provision of chronic maintenance of hospital dialysis and a survey of the areas which do not have such services is currently being undertaken. The proposal to establish a unit in Limerick Regional Hospital is being examined in this context.