Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospitals Building Programme.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

152 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans that are with his Department for continued improvements to the orthopaedic hospital at Kilcreene, County Kilkenny for the current year and future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18674/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The delivery of acute hospital services at the Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene is a matter for the South Eastern Health Board in the first instance. As the Deputy will be aware, in September 1997 the South Eastern Health Board unanimously adopted a plan for the Kilkenny hospital system that involves the rationalisation of all hospital services in Kilkenny city onto the St. Luke's Hospital site. This plan involves the development of existing services in St Luke's, the addition of new specialities of acute psychiatry, paediatrics, geriatrics, including a long-stay unit, the further development of community services and the provision of a community hospital to support the acute hospital.

A central element of this plan will involve the transfer of elective orthopaedics from Kilcreene to Waterford Regional Hospital in line with the conclusions of a major review of orthopaedic services in the region which was completed in 1992 by a joint Department of Health/Comhairle na nOspideal expert review group.

The full implementation of the Kilkenny hospital plan will require progress on a number of fronts, including the provision of suitable accommodation at Waterford Regional Hospital for the transfer of elective orthopaedic services there. In view of the complexities inherent in co-ordinating the implementation of the plan, a project team, involving officials, medical and nursing staff of the South Eastern Health Board and officials of my Department, has been established to draw up an implementation timetable, a priority list for the developments and to work on costings.

In the meantime, elective orthopaedic procedures will continue to be performed at the hospital while this process of implementation, in consultation with all relevant interests, is under way. It is a matter for the board to address these ongoing needs in the normal way in the context of overall funding available to them for this purpose.