Vol. 481 No. 5
89 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds available to patients and the number of consultants working in St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin 6 for each of the years from 1995 and to date in 1997; and the plans, if any, he has to increase these numbers by the allocation of special funding. [16633/97]
The number of available beds at St. Luke's Hospital, including day beds and hostel places, for each year from 1995 to date is as follows: 1995 — 109; 1996 — 109; 1997 — 109.
There has been a major capital development programme under way at St. Luke's Hospital over the past three years. This programme involves a complete upgrading of accommodation throughout the hospital and the provision of new radiotherapy equipment. As part of the development, St. Anne's Hospital will close and with the transfer of beds from St. Anne's a total of 144 beds will be available at the new St. Luke's Hospital including day beds and hostel places. The development is at an advanced stage and when completed will cost approximately £20 million. Allied to this major capital development my Department has provided substantial additional revenue funding to support the development. In 1997 £600,000 additional revenue moneys were provided under the cancer strategy.
The number of consultant radiotherapists-clinical oncologists in St. Luke's Hospital for each year from 1995 to date is as follows: 1995 — 6; 1996 — 6; 1997 — 6.
I am committed to the continued development of cancer services throughout the country as outlined in the national cancer strategy. The strategy involves a reorganisation of services, screening and early detection, health promotion activities, the development of services to ensure equity of access throughout the country, development of palliative care and the co-ordination of funding for cancer research.
