asked the Minister for Health if he intends to provide facilities at the Meath Hospital for kidney dialysis.
167.
Written Answers. - Meath Hospital, Dublin.
166.
asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the plans for the future of the Meath Hospital; and if it is intended to close this hospital.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together. Plans for the rationalisation of hospital services provide for six major acute general hospitals in the Dublin area. These are James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Mater Hospital and Beaumont Hospital on the north side of the city and St. James's Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital and a new hospital in Tallaght on the south side.
The services provided by the Meath, Adelaide and National Children's Hospitals together with the orthopaedic services at Dr. Steeven's Hospital will form the nucleus of the new hospital in Tallaght and will transfer to the hospital when it is commissioned.
In the interim facilities for renal dialysis at the Meath Hospital are being up-graded with the provision of a new renal unit which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.