asked the Minister for Health, in view of his announcement in relation to the allocation of moneys to the North Eastern Health Board, if he will have the decision to close St. Mary's Geriatric Hospital, County Louth reversed in view of the urgent requirement of geriatric beds in the Louth-Meath area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.
24.
The provision of geriatric services in the Louth-Meath area is a matter for the North-Eastern Health Board in the first instance. The primary reason for relocating the geriatric service at the Cottage Hospital is that St. Mary's is an old building which is no longer suitable for the accommodation of long stay geriatric patients and plans are underway to increase the bed complement at the Cottage Hospital by way of internal adaptations and the building of an extension to the hospital. I have no plans to ask the health board to reverse its decision in this instance.
25.
asked the Minister for Health if he is considering re-opening any beds in Tralee Regional Hospital, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The provision of services at Tralee General Hospital is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. It is the responsibility of the board to decide the number of beds in the hospital in the light of the needs of the county and the availability of resources.
There are 290 beds open at the hospital at present. Discussions are taking place between officers of my Department and the Southern Health Board concerning bed requirements for 1990.
26.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty and distress currently caused by the precipitate closure of St. Patrick's Psychiatric Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on this and the controversial patient transfer policy from this hospital.
The management of psychiatric services in County Roscommon is primarily a matter for the Western Health Board. The Western Health Board have taken a decision to develop their psychiatric service in County Roscommon in accordance with the policy outlined in the report "Planning for the Future". This report sets out the steps necessary to develop a modern community based psychiatric service which will enable many people to be treated without the necessity of being admitted to hospital. This policy has been accepted by successive Governments as being the best way of developing a more caring and humane approach to the treatment of mental illness.
The Western Health Board's development plan involves the provision of an acute psychiatric unit at the County Hospital, Roscommon. I have provided the necessary capital resources to enable this work to be undertaken. The unit has recently been completed and will be opened as soon as possible. This will enable people from County Roscommon who require in-patient treatment to be looked after in a general hospital setting and in a unit which has been built to the most modern standard available. A range of back-up facilities such as supported hostels, day centres, workshops and community residences are being put in place in various locations throughout County Roscommon. The provision of alternative facilities for a number of mainly elderly patients who are currently cared for in St. Patrick's Hospital is the subject of discussions between my Department and the Western Health Board. These discussions have not yet been finalised but I can inform the Deputy that it is the Western Health Board's wish to provide improved facilities for these patients.
The main purpose of the reorganisation of the psychiatric services in County Roscommon is to bring about necessary improvements for those who need to use the service. I appreciate that there may be some apprehension about the changes being introduced but I have no doubt that these concerns will be overcome when the various new facilities for patients which I have outlined are in place.