asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions on which the Board of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, has met since the hospital opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Beaumont (Dublin) Hospital.
51.
The Board of Beaumont Hospital has met on two occasions since the hospital opened. I am at present in the process of reconstituting the board.
52.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that over 100 patients were awaiting treatment at an out-patient clinic in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 on Thursday, 18 February 1988; and if he will discuss with the chief executive of the hospital the possibility of providing more medical staff for out-patient clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand from the authorities at Beaumont Hospital that their out-patient clinics are arranged so as to minimise the number of patients awaiting examination/treatment at any one time while ensuring that there is always a sufficient number of patients available for examination/treatment by the medical staff.
The only out-patient clinic which does not have a timetabled arrangement is the warfarin clinic which checks the clotting time of bloods of patients who are on warfarin (a long term medication) and operates on a "walk in" basis. Because of the large throughput over a relatively short period it is not felt necessary to have patients timetabled for this clinic. The hospital is, however, monitoring this situation and the arrangement will be changed if necessary.
I am satisfied that the level of medical staff available for outpatient clinics is satisfactory.