Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:62 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he intends to provide funding for the proper development of the dialysis service at University Hospital, Cork. [7719/96]
Written Answers. - Cork Renal Dialysis Service.
, Limerick East): Cork University Hospital has provided a comprehensive renal dialysis service for many years under the clinical management of a consultant nephrologist. This service includes the provision of a haemodialysis service in which dialysis patients are dialysed at times which allow many of them to continue in employment and in a manner which enables them to maintain a normal lifestyle.
As part of the continual development of the dialysis service, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, CAPD, has been further developed within Cork University Hospital during 1995. This community-based service facilitates suitable patients, with proper training, to be dialysed at home while remaining under the clinical management of the consultant nephrologist. A dedicated CAPD, nurse is assigned responsibility for the 25 patients on this programme and this nurse also functions as part of the dialysis team.
Arrangements for the ongoing funding of the agreed level of service will form part of the overall agreement with the board on foot of the service plan submitted to my Department.