asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has for the future of Boyne View House, Drogheda, County Louth; if he has any plans to close it in conjunction with the proposed closure of St. Mary's Geriatric Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Louth Geriatric Services.
119.
The provision of geriatric services in the Drogheda area is a matter for the North Eastern Health Board in the first instance. I am informed by the board that it has no plans to close this establishment in conjunction with the proposed closure of St. Mary's Hospital. There are no such plans in my Department regarding this institution.
120.
asked the Minister for Health the number of geriatric beds available for the past five years in County Louth; their location; the waiting list, male and female, for the same period; the projected requirement for the next five years; the projected waiting list for the same period; and an age breakdown, male and female, of the patients in each area.
The number of geriatric beds available and their location in each of the past five years in County Louth was as follows:—
|
Year |
St. Oliver Plunkett Dundalk |
Hilltop Dundalk |
St. Joseph's Ardee |
St. Mary's Drogheda |
Boyne View House Drogheda |
Total |
|
1983 |
110 |
50 |
48 |
66 |
38 |
312 |
|
1984 |
110 |
50 |
48 |
66 |
38 |
312 |
|
1985 |
106 |
50 |
48 |
66 |
38 |
308 |
|
1986 |
102 |
50 |
46 |
66 |
38 |
302 |
|
1987 |
152 |
— |
46 |
66 |
38 |
302 |
Data on waiting lists in the form requested by the Deputy are not readily available but the position as at 31st December 1987 was:—
|
Waiting list |
Urban and Rural Dundalk |
Mid-Louth |
Urban and Rural Drogheda |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
Age |
||||||
|
60-69 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
— |
— |
7 |
|
70-79 |
4 |
10 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
80-89 |
4 |
15 |
10 |
16 |
8 |
10 |
|
90+ |
1 |
2 |
1 |
— |
— |
1 |
|
10 |
29 |
15 |
22 |
14 |
25 |
|
|
Total |
39 |
37 |
39 |
It is not possible at this stage to say what the waiting list will be over the next five years.
On the basis of the current planning guidelines in my Department the projected requirement for long stay nursing and welfare type accommodation in County Louth is about 300 beds. However, current policy is to strengthen and develop community based and other services for the elderly such as assessment and rehabilitation services with the result that the demand for long stay nursing and welfare type accommodation should fall significantly in the future. Accordingly, any projected estimate of need in this area can be regarded as a tentative figure only which will be refined in the light of developments.
The age and sex classification of patients in each institution as at 31 December 1987 was as follows:—
Age and Sex Breakdown of Patients at 31/12/87
|
St. Oliver Plunkett Hospital, Dundalk |
St. Joseph's Hospital Ardee |
St. Mary's Drogheda |
Boyne View House Drogheda |
|
|
Age 40-65 |
16 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
65-75 |
42 |
7 |
12 |
4 |
|
75-Over |
88 |
36 |
53 |
31 |
|
146 |
47 |
68 |
6 |
|
|
Male |
51 |
16 |
26 |
15 |
|
Female |
95 |
31 |
42 |
22 |
|
146 |
47 |
68 |
37 |
These numbers do not tally precisely with the approved bed complement in each institution at that date but this results from the fluctuating nature of the demand for beds.