Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hospitals Report.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

71 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to his commitment in an Adjournment Debate of 13 May 1999, his officials have completed their examination of the Children in Hospital Ireland report, children being cared for in the adult wards; the discussions, if any, which have taken place with the chief executive officers of the health boards and of the major acute hospitals on the report; when his officials will meet representatives of Children in Hospital Ireland; the steps, if any, he will be taking to address the problems highlighted in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16119/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The review being undertaken by my Department of the report referred to by the Deputy is under way but is not yet completed. The review includes a detailed consultative process with a paediatric professional body aimed at assisting my Department in determining the nature and extent of discussions to be entered into with service providers with regard to the findings of the report.

I do not anticipate that the review process will be of extended duration and the Deputy will appreciate that pending its completion, the introduction of initiatives at this stage in response to the findings of the report would be premature.

I assure the Deputy meanwhile, that officials of my Department will initiate discussions with representatives of children in hospital, Ireland as soon as the review is completed.