Vol. 411 No. 1
572 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the anxiety of people in County Clare regarding the future of Ennis General Hospital following the publication by the Mid-Western Health Board of a plan to build a super hospital at Dooradoyle in Limerick; and if he will request the consultants to provide proposals for the expansion of specialties particularly in surgery in the County Clare hospital.
I can assure the Deputy that Ennis General Hospital will continue to provide an integral part of the general hospital service in the Mid-Western Health Board area. This is in line with the development plan for acute hospitals in the Mid-Western Health Board area, which the board adopted in March 1988.
The Deputy will be aware that substantial work has been undertaken at Ennis in the past few years — fire precautions have been enhanced; the surgical ward and both medical wards have been upgraded to a high standard of accommodation; operating theatres have been upgraded; the accident and emergency department and the physiotherapy department are both being enhanced in conjunction with the development of the geriatric assessment unit.
An additional consultant post of physician in geriatric medicine has been sanctioned and the appointee is expected to take up duty in early December 1991.
The upgrading of facilities at Ennis General Hospital will be further complemented by the development planned for the regional centre in Limerick.
I am confident that these developments will greatly enhance the service being provided for the people in County Clare.
