Vol. 398 No. 4
138 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding the report that St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin 6 is having problems finding beds for cancer patients, following the recent closure of a further 15 beds at the hospital.
The admission of cancer patients for treatment is a matter for the St. Luke's/St. Anne's Hospital Board. I am aware of the article to which the Deputy is referring but I would like to assure him that a recent examination of the waiting list indicates a significant reduction in the waiting period which is now down to about two weeks. Patients requiring emergency treatment are of course admitted without delay.
This improvement has been brought about by increased utilisation of beds at the St. Anne's unit following integration of St. Luke's and St. Anne's hospitals under a new board of management in December 1988, the introduction of a common admissions policy for the two units and the provision of new radiotherapy equipment at both units.
With regard to bed closures the position is that 15 hostel beds were closed last February due to their unsuitability for nursing care.
