Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 4

Written Answers. - Children's Hospital's Report.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

211 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the third annual report from the Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology of the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, which indicates major problems facing the department, due to increasing demand for in-patient and out-patient services and outlines the necessary measures which need to be implemented; if she will provide support so that the suggested measures can be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The full range of paediatric ophthalmology services, including neonatal services, are provided at the Department of Ophthalmology, Temple Street Hospital. The ophthalmology department processes 8,000 out-patient visits and 600 in-patient admissions per annum.

I will consider the recommendations of the third annual report of the department of ophthalmology to upgrade the out-patient services at the ophthalmology department as sympathetically as possible in the context of whatever resources might be available for the whole hospital and the many competing demands for developments throughout the entire health services.