Vol. 507 No. 2
165 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the lack of facilities in Temple Street hospital, Dublin, and the accusation that x-rays cannot be performed after 8 or 9 p.m.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16697/99]
I have had inquiries made of The Children's Hospital, Temple Street, regarding this matter. The hospital has confirmed that there is a radiographer on call from 5 p.m. in the evening to 9 a.m. the following morning. She remains at the hospital until 10 p.m. and can be contacted at home after this time if needed for emergency procedures. Patients needing non urgent x-rays are asked to return the following morning.
In 1999, I was pleased to be able to approve additional revenue funding of £1.240 million to meet the cost of approved service developments at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, in areas of support staff, paediatrics, nephrology, neonatology, airways management and theatres/day wards. Included in this amount is £0.690 million in respect of commissioning of the following, the national centre for metabolic diseases, and the high dependency unit.
The hospital did not prioritise the radiology services for development funding in 1999. However if this service is prioritised for additional funding by the hospital, it will be considered within the context of the hospital's overall priorities for the year 2000 and the many competing demands within the acute sector.
