asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the recent death of a young girl while travelling from Limerick to Dublin for kidney treatment; if he is aware that a voluntary organisation raised the price of a kidney machine for Limerick Regional Hospital 12 months ago; and the reason his Department have not yet installed the machine and so prevent excessive travelling by kidney patients in the Limerick area.
Written Answers. - Limerick Hospital Kidney Machine.
397.
I learned with regret of the recent death of a young girl while travelling from Limerick to Dublin for kidney treatment. The girl was a patient of one of the consultants of the Mid-Western Health Board who referred her for specialist medical care to Dublin.
I am aware of the funds raised in the Limerick locality for the provision of a kidney dialysis unit for Limerick Regional Hospital. I should point out however that the most significant costs associated with the establishment of a dialysis service in Limerick would be the recurring costs of running the service. Indeed the health board have estimated that such costs would be of the order of £160,000 annually. While in current conditions there are no funds available to supplement the board's allocation for this purpose, in July last my Department gave approval to the Mid-Western Health Board for the establishment of a maintenance dialysis service at Limerick Regional on condition that this could be done from within the existing revenue allocation.
The board have taken the preliminary steps to establish a service at Limerick. A suitable area in the regional hospital has been set aside for the development of a dialysis unit. Arrangements have been made with Jervis Street for specialised training for four nurses employed by the board.
As training for the nurses will not be completed until January next a maintenance dialysis service could not be established in Limerick until 1985.