Vol. 394 No. 8
101 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that beds, staff and other facilities at Roscommon County Hospital are adequate to deal with a flu emergency given the usual level of bed occupancy in the acute medical wing of this hospital.
385 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the medical wing of Roscommon County Hospital has an average bed occupancy of 130 per cent of capacity at almost all times; to the fact that the nursing staff on this medical wing is adequate to cater for only 27 beds whereas the established occupancy is normally 40 beds; his views on whether this is a dangerous situation; and the action he intends to take to remedy the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 385 together.
The provision of hospital services in Roscommon is a matter for the Western Health Board in the first instance.
I have made inquiries of the board in this matter. I am informed that overcrowding levels on the scale mentioned by the Deputy are not experienced in Roscommon. I understand that the normal medical bed complement is 35 and that this can be increased in response to exceptional demands such as was experienced during the recent flu epidemic. Elective admissions to the surgical department were reduced to cater for the increased level of medical admissions. I am informed that additional staff were employed as considered necessary.
A small level of overcrowding has been experienced within the last two weeks. The situation is being monitored closely.
