An unprecedented level of investment is now taking place in acute hospital facilities under the current capital programme. In line with my strategy for the development of acute hospital services on a regionally self-sufficient basis, this process of investment is aimed at developing a strong network of regional and local general hospitals. In 1999, a total of £155 million has been provided for capital investment in the health services, a significant proportion of which has been directed into the acute hospital area.
Significant progress has also been made on the phased commissioning of new units completed under the capital programme. In 1999, a total of £11.5 million has been provided to meet the revenue costs associated with doing this. This is enabling major new facilities such as those completed under phase 1 at University College Hospital, Galway and phase 1 at the Mercy Hospital, Cork to be fully staffed and brought into service this year and has allowed significant progress to be made on the phased completion of commissioning the major developments at Limerick Regional Hospital.
The following is a list of uncommissioned newly constructed hospital units:
Limerick Regional Hospital
Phase 1 developments
Two main operating theatres (out of a total of seven).
One day theatre (out of two).
One ICU bed (out of a unit of seven).
Two renal dialysis stations (out of eight).
These units have been available for occupation since August 1998.
Phase 2 developments
Two radiology rooms (out of ten).
These rooms have been available since December 1998.
The new accident and emergency and paediatric departments are at present being fitted out and equipped and are not yet ready for occupation. The accident and emergency department is presently temporarily located in what will become a new medical day unit.
University College Hospital Galway
Two operating theatres (out of a total of nine, available since October 1998).
One 26 bed ward (available since March 1999).
Ten observation beds in accident and emergency (available since June 1999).
Two X-ray rooms (out of a total of seven, available since May 1999).
As I mentioned, I have provided funding in 1999 to enable the Western Health Board to commission fully these facilities by the end of the year.