Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 7

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

234 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of bed spaces available at Naas Hospital; the number of medical, surgical, geriatric, acute cardio and psychiatric bed spaces available; the average number of patients under each heading per month; the number of patients currently in the hospital and accommodated by way of other than standard hospital beds; the quality and nature of this accommodation; the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure that minimum standards are applied in the short term, in view of his previously expressed concern at the conditions in the hospital; the way in which it is expected that the dedication of 35 of the proposed beds to patients from the new Tallaght Hospital is likely to alleviate over-crowding or improve the standard or status of Naas Hospital and its ability to provide services to its catchment area in the context of the hospital development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The total number of beds at Naas General Hospital is 129 and can be broken down as follows: in-patient beds — medical, 55; surgical, 32; coronary care, four; intensive care, two; acute psychiatric, 30; day beds — medical and surgical, six. In addition, accommodation for 13 patients is available in the observation ward.

During the period 1 January to 31 December 1997 the average number of admissions per month for each speciality was as follows: medical, 218; surgical, 135; coronary care, 34; intensive care, 15; acute pscychiatric, 37.

On the morning of 24 February 1998 a total of 39 patients were accommodated in other than standard hospital beds. These patients were accommodated as follows: observation ward, 13; day ward, six; day room, six; A&E department, 14.

In 1997 the Eastern Health Board undertook the following initiatives to alleviate difficulties experienced at Naas General Hospital. These included: the provision of a dedicated day ward — six beds — to enable the more efficient and effective use of in-patient beds; the provision of an observation unit adjacent to the A&E with accommodation for up to 13 patients; the appointment of a bed manager to ensure the most effective use of the acute hospital bed resource; the creation of two additional consultant posts and two non-consultant hospital doctor positions to enhance medical cover at the hospital; and the nursing staff complement of the hospital was increased by 13.

The provision of additional beds at the hospital will ensure the availability of complementary facilities to medical and surgical patients from the Naas area who will have completed specialised treatment in Tallaght Hospital and will require a further period of recovery in a hospital setting. This will also help to relieve the overall pressure on acute hospital bed provision in the area.

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently approved a revised phase II development brief for this hospital. This brief has now been extended, as compared with the original proposal, to incorprate the following: additional general medical and surgical ward (31 beds); department of medicine for the elderly; day services unit; department of radiology; operating department; and department of physical medicine.

The revised phase II development will provide enhanced rehabilitation services and ensure more effective and efficient discharge planning of patients. The cost of accommodating the above changes is estimated at £18 million — construction costs — as compared with the previous construction cost limit of £11.63 million. This will bring the overall cost of the project — including fees and equipping — to a figure in the region of £26 million — at May 1996 prices.