Limerick East): The Deputy will be aware that my Department has made substantial funds available for the development of a dialysis service at Cavan General Hospital, which serves counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Longford and north Meath. The rest of the region, because of its proximity to Dublin, is served by Beaumont Hospital.
I have had inquiries made of the North-Eastern Health Board and I understand that the board has looked at the feasibility of setting up a new service for the Louth-Meath area but at present the numbers are insufficient to justify the costs involved. It is satisfied that the needs of Louth-Meath patients are, for the most part, well met by the Cavan and Dublin based services. However, it is aware that there is some hardship endured by a limited number of patients in north Louth who have to leave home very early to attend for dialysis in Dublin.
The Deputy will wish to know that as far as possible the dialysis service is available to patients at all times of the day, every day. However, in this case, the early appointments are designed to facilitate those patients who have to attend work afterwards.
The board has confirmed that it is keeping the service needs under review, and in the interim, it will make every effort to improve the arrangements for individual dialysis patients.