Vol. 517 No. 4
200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds and other facili ties available prior to commencement of the Naas hospital development construction programme; the number of bed and other facilities in each discipline proposed in the plan; the progress to date in respect of the works involved; if any alterations have taken place in respect of anticipated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10163/00]
The total number of beds at Naas General Hospital is 124. Of these 124 beds, 94 are in-patient beds formally approved under article 8 of the Health Services (In-patient) Regulations, 1991, and 30 are located in the psychiatric unit which was provided under phase one of the development.
Prior to the commencement of phase two of the development the hospital provided the following facilities: entrance; out patients department; physical medical department; pharmacy department; operating department; intensive care and coronary care; administration-medical records; accident and emergency department; radiology department; geriatric day hospital; day services-endoscopy; in-patient beds; observation beds; chaplaincy department; autopsy-mortuary department; acute psychiatric beds; pathology.
On completion of the development Naas General Hospital will have a total bed complement of 189 beds, including 25 day beds and 30 beds in the psychiatric unit provided under phase one of the development at the hospital. The phase two development includes the following in new accommodation: main entrance concourse; out patients department; physical medicine department; pharmacy department; operating department; intensive care and coronary care units; geriatric rehabilitation-assessment ward; administration-medical records department; accident and emergency department; radiology department; geriatric day hospital; day services department; in patient wards; chaplaincy department.
Phase two of this development also provides for the alteration and refurbishment of the mortuary-post mortem department in its existing accommodation. The designation of hospital beds into medical, surgical or other categories is a matter for the management of the hospital concerned and is subject to service demand.
I am pleased to say that the work on phase two of this development is progressing well and that there have been no alterations in respect of anticipated costs. I am confident that when the development is complete Naas General Hospital will be in a position to provide an enhanced level of care to its catchment area.
