Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 4

Written Answers. - Tallaght Hospital.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

78 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the date on which plans for the construction of Tallaght Hospital were approved; whether the structure of the hospital as originally approved reflected previous plans for the construction of Cork Regional Hospital or Beaumont Hospital; whether the difficulties experienced in the period immediately prior to the commissioning of these hospitals and immediately subsequent to their opening were taken into account to ensure that the internal structure of Tallaght Hospital and the individual units as originally constructed by the builder would meet the purposes for which they were required; the portions of the hospital that have required reconstruction following their original completion and the reason therefor; the extent of the discussion, if any, which took place with the doctors responsible for particular areas of speciality for which the hospital was being constructed prior to the plan for the hospital initially being agreed and going to tender; the additional cost incurred in the demolition and reconstruction of portions of the hospital previously completed; and the areas of speciality to which the extra expenditure has been incurred. [12506/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The new hospital at Tallaght was designed in accordance with the requirements of the planning brief prepared by the Tallaght Hospital Board and its planning group. The planning group consisted of the Board members, which included eight hospital medical consultants, together with the Matrons and Secretary/Managers of the Meath, Adelaide and National Children's Hospitals with attendance as required of various medical and other Heads of Departments of the aforementioned hospitals and Dr. Steevens' Hospital.

The planning brief which was completed in March 1984 is a comprehensive statement of the requirements of the hospital and how it would operate. It contains detailed descriptions of the overall and departmental operational policies which apply to the hospital, a description of each department, including detailed schedules of accommodation.

Planning of the hospital in accordance with the requirements of the planning brief was completed in September 1990 following an architectural competition for the project in 1984-85.

Following a review in May 1992 of the function, scope and scale of the proposed Tallaght Hospital by the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group (Kennedy Group), planning revisions were made to the tender documentation completed in September 1990, to reflect the group's recommendations. These revisions were discussed and agreed with the users. The plans were then approved to go to tender in June 1993. Tenders for the revised project were received in September 1993 and construction commenced on site in October 1993 by the successful main contractor Laing/Paul.

The planning of the hospital through its years of detailed development by the design team was overseen by a project team which reported to the Tallaght Hospital Board. The project team included medical representation of all hospitals concerned. Plans of departments were discussed and agreed with the users, through the Tallaght Hospital Board's nurse planning officer, who reported to the project team.

Planning of the hospital as originally designed reflected the requirements of the planning brief together with Irish and international developments in hospital design current at the time including Cork Regional and Beaumont Hospitals.

Experience gained from the pre and post commissioning phases of these hospitals were taken into account and is part of the reason why every effort has been made to meet the changing needs which have been considered essential by the management of the hospital.

The departments or portions of the hospital to which alterations have been made since completion of the Laing/Paul contract are as follows: day care; paediatric; pathology; psychiatric; nephrology and dialysis; accident and emergency; operating theatres; intensive care; pharmacy; health records; hospital sterile services department; out patients; waste management; radiology.

Alterations to the majority of the departments are not significant construction works and in some instances are very minor. These have been necessary due to changes in medical practices, procedures, technology, health and safety requirements and they reflect the need and the opportunity to commission the hospital on a basis which reflects current best practice and which will be very important to the future functioning of the hospital and the containment of its revenue and further capital costs. The most significant change is the major expansion of the out patients department. This expansion will be completed by October next and is being provided within the planned expansion factor.

The extent of discussion which took place with the doctors responsible for particular areas of speciality for which the hospital was being constructed has at all times been elaborate and comprehensive both prior to going to tender and indeed during the course of the project. Should the Deputy require the names of the doctors involved I will be glad to supply him with the relevant details.

I am advised that costs related to the alterations should not be divulged at this stage of the works as the information is commercially sensitive pending agreement of the final account with the Contractor. The high dependency unit to the paediatric department is being funded by the National Children's Hospital.