Vol. 541 No. 2
263 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the conditions at the Military Hospital, Collins Barracks, Cork; the number of staff working in the hospital; and the type of services available to Army personnel at the hospital. [21423/01]
264 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a report on the services at the Military Hospital, Collins Barracks, Cork; if so, if he will publish the report in full; and if the report has not been received by him when he expects to receive same. [21424/01]
265 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the reason services and facilities at the Military Hospital at Collins Barracks, Cork, have been reduced in recent years. [21425/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 263, 264 and 265 together.
Following the reorganisation of the Defence Forces effected on 1 November 1998 under the Defence Forces review implementation plan, the number of military hospitals was rationalised from three to one, with the redesignation of the Curragh and Cork hospitals as military medical facilities.
The military medical facility in Cork is one of the three military medical facilities located at the headquarters of each of the field medical companies. These military medical facilities are in addition to St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin.
The reorganisation of the Medical Corps was embraced as an opportunity to redirect the focus of military medical care in the Defence Forces from a predominantly hospital-based service to one in which primary, occupational and field support medical care would continue to be further developed.
There is at present a total of 50 personnel working at the military medical facility at Collins Barracks, Cork, comprising five military officers – three doctors, one dentist, one pharmacist – 25 non commissioned officers and privates, 12 nurses and eight civilians. With regard to conditions at the MMF at Collins Barracks, Cork, I am advised that in the past ten years new windows, new floors and a new heating system have been installed. At present, the outpatient clinic, dental clinic and filing rooms are being refurbished.
The military medical facility in Cork has an infirmary for the care of "living-in" personnel, largely recruits and other training course students, who become injured or ill. There are currently pharmacy, audiometry screening, chiropody, dental, and physiotherapy facilities available at the MMF, Cork. There are three clinics in operation comprising a GP clinic, a specialist medical clinic and a Well Woman clinic. There is a psychiatric/counselling service available. In addition to these primary care services, the out-patient service provides occupational health services which include pre-employment medicals, annual medicals, travel medicine, vaccination programme and audiology seminars.
