Vol. 403 No. 4
210 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends to take to improve the pathology service at Cashel County Hospital, County Tipperary; the reasons this vital service has been allowed to deteriorate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the South-Eastern Health Board that there has been no reduction in laboratory facilities in Our Lady's County Surgical Hospital, Cashel, either in staffing or equipment and that none is envisaged at the present time.
Cashel Hospital obtains consultant laboratory services from Waterford Regional Hospital. Applications for a microbiologist and a clinical haematologist for the central laboratory at the Regional Hospital, Ardkeen, Waterford are at present being processed and this will ensure that a comprehensive service will be available to Cashel Hospital. When these arrangements are in place there will be a significant improvement in the services being provided for Our Lady's Surgical Hospital, Cashel.
