Vol. 461 No. 7
139 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the current embargo on beds at the Mater Hospital which has resulted in seriously ill patients being unable to obtain admission for surgery since early December 1995. [3652/96]
Limerick East): I understand from the Mater Hospital that there is no embargo on beds. However, the Mater Hospital is one of the six major accident and emergency hospitals in the Dublin area. For that reason it is not possible to determine the number of patients who will require accident and emergency treatment and subsequent hospital admission. When, there is pressure on beds it can, at times, lead to the cancellation of elective admissions. The Mater Hospital has assured me that medical need is the determing factor and that all emergency cases receive priority.
