Vol. 374 No. 7
asked the Minister for Health if Ennis General Hospital, County Clare will play a central role in the provision of acute surgical and maternity services for the people of Clare, especially since the closure of Cahercalla Maternity Hospital and Kilrush District Hospital also in County Clare.
222.
asked the Minister for Health the guidelines or directives, if any, being issued by his Department to the Mid-Western Health Board that could affect the future of Ennis General Hospital, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
224.
asked the Minister for Health if he will give assurance that County Clare people will have acute and surgical services provided in Ennis General Hospital for 1988-89; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 222 and 224 together. The provision of services at Ennis General Hospital is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. I have not received any proposal from the health board for a change in the range or type of services being provided at this hospital and I have not issued any guidelines or directives to the board in this regard.
The health board decided earlier this year to transfer maternity services from Cahercalla to the regional maternity hospital in Limerick. However, out-patient clinics in this speciality will continue to be held in Ennis at the general hospital.
223.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposals of Kilrush, County Clare, district hospital action committee; if he will finance their proposals either directly from his Department or through the Mid-Western Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The future use of the hospital building at Kilrush is primarily a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board. I am aware of a plan formulated by a local voluntary group which has been submitted to the health board in regard to the use of these premises. I will of course consider sympathetically any reasonable proposal which may be made to me.
