Vol. 468 No. 4
188 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a decision by the South-Eastern Health Board to close the gynaecological ward at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, for the month of August; if he will make additional funding available to the board to ensure that this ward remains open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15528/96]
Limerick East): I understand from the South-Eastern Health Board that it has decided to institute summer ward closures in its general hospitals. The closures will mainly effect elective procedures. Summer bed closures are designed to coincide with consultant and other staff leave and it is a common occurrence that there is a fall off in elective procedures during the holiday period. The board is satisfied that the proposed measures can be implemented without affecting the overall acute hospital activity projected in 1996. Emergency services will not be affected by those measures.
