asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the ten to 12 non-nursing posts presently vacant at the County Hospital, Ennis, County Clare, that a panel was established and interviews held early in 1984, and that despite requests from the ITGWU to have the posts filled action has not yet been taken; the reasons for the delayed assignment of the posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Ennis (Clare) Hospital.
11.
There are nine permanent vacancies for attendants at Ennis General Hospital, all of which are filled on a temporary basis. The health board do not intend filling these on a permanent basis pending clarification of their overall financial position and consideration of the actions necessary to enable the new maternity unit at Cahercalla to be opened.
Can the Minister say when the health board will be in a position to make a decision on this matter?
In Question No. 13 I have a reply to make on that matter.
12.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the serious overcrowding and unsatisfactory condition of the General Hospital, Ennis, County Clare; if he is taking any urgent steps to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The percentage occupancy rate at the General Hospital, Ennis, was 82.6 per cent last year which does not indicate any real problem of overcrowding. It may be that some overcrowding does occur on occasions but on balance a figure of 82.6 per cent is very reasonable.
I do not know that some facilities at Ennis are not as good as they might be and every effort is being made to improve them. For example, a new X-ray unit was completed and equipped last year at a capital cost of over £300,000 and I also allocated £10,000 recently for the purchase of ophthalmic equipment.
Also, when the Mid-Western Health Board transfer the maternity facilities from the general hospital to the new unit at Cahercalla, some accommodation will be freed up at the general hospital which can then be used to improve overall facilities and conditions.
The Minister does not seem to be aware that there are widespread complaints about the facilities and the conditions in the County Hospital in Ennis. There are also widespread complaints about chronic overcrowding, with patients in beds out in the corridors. Can the Minister give me some up-to-date information about plans for the extension and development of the hospital because of the chronic situation, which is causing widespread anxiety in the county?
The statistics for 1984 speak for themselves. The number of patients discharged was 6,872. The bed occupancy was 82.6 per cent. The average duration of stay was 5.59 days and the number of live births was 659. When there is a transfer to Cahercalla, further space will be freed. That does not indicate any serious overcrowding in the hospital. Indeed, I know of many hospitals which have occupancy figures far higher than that.
These percentages mean very little to the people of County Clare. What they are seriously worried about are the conditions in the hospital. The staff are seriously worried about the situation and at one time threatened not to work there. I am not sure about the discharge rates, but one of the reasons for discharge is that there is no place for those patients.
That must be the final supplementary on this question.
The Minister must be made aware of the situation. There are patients occupying beds in the corridors in the public view. The situation is deplorable.
I would not accept that, Deputy. It is a large hospital. There are 127 beds, 58 for general medicine, 49 for general surgery and 14 for obstetrics and gynaecology. The occupants of these 14 beds will transfer to Cahercalla.
But Cahercalla is not open.
It will be open and should have been open long ago if we had an effective health board in operation.
Ah, now.
The hospital has a staff of 200 people and costs £3.6 million a year to run. It is not overcrowded.
Is the Minister aware that a former Minister for Health, Deputy Woods, indicated to the health board on a visit to Ennis hospital that he was having the conditions at Ennis County Hospital examined? Is he aware whether the former Minister for Health had any inquiry made or has he the results of this inquiry?
There was a project team.
Leaving aside the current condition of the hospital, it is correct and should be put on the record that a project team have completed a planning brief for the general development of the entire hospital. That is not to say that the current hospital, as working, is overcrowded. Ultimately, the intention was, in terms of the project team work, to raise the bed complement to about 200 from 127. At the moment, with a large staff employed — 200 persons including seven full time consultant staff — the average duration of stay is 5.59 days. In those circumstances I do not know what the previous Minister was doing. Perhaps he was singing a song down there, whatever else he was doing. There is not a critical situation at this stage in relation to the hospital.
Could we get some indication from the Minister that he might look at the situation to see if any temporary measures could be undertaken immediately to relieve the position, if he would have the matter examined and give some priority to it? There is widespread concern and anxiety throughout the county about the deteriorating situation.
My first priority is to have Cahercalla opened up rapidly, pending the development of the Ennis hospital. We provided a 30-bed maternity unit for County Clare in the St. John of God Hospital at a cost of well over £500,000. When the maternity unit is fully available it will free another 14 beds in Ennis hospital to alleviate any overcrowding which may occur from time to time. I give a very definite assurance that I shall be very forthcoming and co-operative when I see the intent of opening Cahercalla. When that maternity unit is running — and it is disgraceful that it is not at this stage — I shall then examine the situation in Ennis hospital with absolute sympathy and understanding.
Will the Minister go down and have a look at the situation?
I shall go down there when the maternity unit is opened, as it should have been.