Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cardiac Services.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

36 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide details of the progress to date on the provision of improved cardiac services in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12; and the timescale for these works. [10267/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I recently announced an initiative on cardiovascular health and cardiac services. Included in this initiative is a provision for additional paediatric cardiac surgery capacity to be developed at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, in association with the National Cardiac Unit at the Mater Hospital. Up to 100 additional procedures for children will be provided. This additional capacity will mean an increase of 40 per cent in this area. The estimated revenue cost of this development is £2 million.

The hospital authorities at Crumlin have welcomed this initiative and have stated they will continue to work with the Department of Health and Children to design and implement the details of the proposed package for paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. These details will be the subject of discussion between my Department and the hospital's representatives during the coming weeks, to ensure the development of services will proceed as quickly as possible.

As part of its approach to improving services for cardiac patients, the hospital has completed its brief to develop a plan for the provision of additional operating theatres. This extra operating capacity will contribute significantly to the enhancement of cardiac services and the reduction of waiting times for surgery. Following the examination of this brief by my Department's technical officers, it is my intention that the planning and construction process should be completed without delay. The timescale for this process will be a matter for discussion between my Department and the hospital authorities.