asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to provide improved facilities and additional medical equipment at the general hospital, Ennis, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Ennis General Hospital.
11.
The Deputy will be aware that a number of significant improvements to facilities have taken place at Ennis General Hospital in recent years. A new radiology unit was completed and equipped in 1984; a 30-bed maternity unit, serving County Clare, was opened at the St. John of God Hospital, Cahercalla in November 1985; a scheme involving renovation of the operating theatres and provision of a recovery room was completed earlier this year; and extensive fire precaution works have recently been carried out as specified by the local fire officer.
I am confident that the substantial improvements to facilities which have been completed will enable the hospital staff to continue to provide a satisfactory level of treatment for patients from County Clare.
A blueprint for the further development of Ennis General Hospital has already been drawn up by a project team representative of my Department and the health board. This provides a guide for future developments at this hospital as resources permit.
The Minister will be aware that in spite of the work which has been carried out in the General Hospital there are still widespread complaints about the poor facilities, the overcrowding and the general condition of the building which was designed 40 to 50 years ago to cater for 40 patients. There are three to four times that number of patients in the hospital at present. Can the Minister tell us whether the blueprint and the work which has been carried out are part of an overall development scheme for the hospital and whether it is proposed to undertake any additional works during the coming year?
As the Deputy is aware, considerable sums of money have been spent in the hospital. The Deputy has referred to a degree of overcrowding but as he is aware there is a difficulty in the medical department particularly in the discharging of elderly patients who for social reasons are kept longer than usual in the hospital. It is hoped that some of the beds in the larger geriatric hospital of St. Joseph's which has 300 beds and in the three District Hospitals which we referred to earlier on, Kilrush, Ennistymon and Raheen, which have a total of 112 beds could be made available as short stay beds for elderly patients. Discussions on this matter are ongoing with the health board at present.
I appreciate the Minister has given us a summary of the improvements: approximately £500,000 has been spent in the last two years on updating the theatre, the laboratory and the X-ray unit, but Deputy Daly's question is about existing accommodation. The provision of toilets and bathrooms are an immediate requirement. Can the Minister tell us whether the health board have any proposals for the improvement of toilet and bathroom facilities, which would greatly alleviate the distress caused when there is ward overcrowding?
I will certainly look into that matter. Such a basic facility within any hospital is a matter of concern for us and a number of our older hospitals are in need of upgrading. The major issue concerned the surgical wards which needed immediate upgrading. That has been done, as has the upgrading of the theatre facilities. There are 127 beds in the hospital, 300 beds in St. Joseph's and 112 beds in the district hospitals. That is the number of beds in County Clare.
The Minister will be aware that part of the development plan for the hospitals is the provision of additional beds. Will funds be made available for the provision of additional medical beds, in particular, in the General Hospital and will he provide on-going finance to enable the plan which has been drawn up to be undertaken? I appreciate that resources are limited but can the Minister give any undertaking that on-going financial provision will be made to deal with this most unsatisfactory situation in the General Hospital in Ennis?
As regards the physical improvement of the hospital, every effort will be made on our part to provide additional capital moneys. The recent improvements were expensive. The surgical and theatre facilities cost about £85,000 and the fire precaution works cost £65,000. The board have requested a grant in respect of those latter works. We have a proposal from the board to provide an additional 15 beds, but this has not generally been considered to be the best solution. I will certainly review the situation again. It is a well-funded, well-budgeted hospital. The budget for this year is not far off £4 million.