Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Feb 1991

Vol. 404 No. 8

Written Answers. - Ardkeen, Waterford, Hospital.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

54 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health (a) the expected completion date of Ardkeen Regional Hospital, County Waterford, (b) the estimated cost of same and (c) the bed numbers in the following faculties: (1) surgical, (2) medical, (3) orthopaedic, (4) gynaecology, (5) obstetrical and (6) ear, nose and throat; the number of these beds being reserved for regional requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

60 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health when the new regional hospital in Waterford will be completed; the number of beds which will be available; the way this number compares with the number provided for in the original plan; and, if there is a reduction, if he will outline when such a decision was made.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 60 together.

Waterford Regional Hospital is due for completion in 1993.

The Ardkeen development was originally planned on the basis of a 600 bed hospital; it was intended to incorporate the services provided at Ardkeen together with the regional orthopaedic unit at Kilcreene, the maternity hospital at Airmount and the child psychiatry and alcoholic unit at Belmont Park. A revised scheme was drawn up in 1983 which reduced the scheme to 424 beds, omitting both psychiatric and orthopaedic beds.

The 424 beds to be provided in the new regional hospital include 73 surgical beds, including ten paediatric beds, 83 medical beds, 31 orthopaedic, trauma, beds, 23 gynaecology beds, 56 obstetric beds and 33 ear, nose and throat beds, regional speciality.

The contract sum for this project was in the region of £36 million. However, the final cost, because of inflation and other factors, will be significantly greater than this.

The new regional hospital will be a purpose-built building geared to the needs of the 21st century and providing a service in community specialities for all of County Waterford, part of County Wexford and south County Kilkenny together with services in a number of regional specialities for the entire South-Eastern Health Board area.