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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

142 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the hydrotherapy pool at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim is closed for patient use for the past three months; when it is proposed to re-open this facility; the reason the casualty department at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton has no doctor on call after 6 p.m.; and the reason for the reduction of these services. [25698/01]

Responsibility for the provision of services at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim including the provision of a hydrotherapy pool and on-call rostering arrangements for the casualty department, rests with the North Western Health Board. Therefore, I have asked the chief executive officer of the health board to investigate the position in relation to this matter and to reply to the Deputy directly.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

143 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when the orthopaedic unit of Mayo General Hospital will be opened; the number of orthopaedic surgeons and consultants who will be in the hospital; and the number of these surgeons and consultants who have been appointed. [25699/01]

The question of developing an orthopaedic service at Mayo General Hospital is a matter for consideration for the Western Health Board in the context of the funding available for the development of acute hospital services in 2002. The Western Health Board, in its proposals for the development of an orthopaedic service in Mayo General Hospital, has indicated a need for three consultant orthopaedic surgeons, supported by three consultant anaesthetists, three consultant radiologists, nursing, paramedical and other support staff.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

144 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if the physiotherapist in the district hospital in Belmullet attends to the in-patients only; if out-patients are also seen; and if there is a separate physiotherapist dealing with the out-patients. [25700/01]

As the Deputy is aware, the administration of health services in the Belmullet area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. I have made inquiries of the board in relation to the matter raised and am informed that the senior physiotherapist in Belmullet District Hospital took up duty on 3 September 2001. The post is designated to provide physiotherapy services to in-patients, both short-stay and long-stay, at the hospital. There is currently no separate physiotherapist employed to deal with out-patients. All patients are evaluated in order to determine the level of physiotherapy service required by the in-patient population. Arrangements are being made to review this evaluation, with the involvement of the senior physiotherapist, the director of nursing and the medical officer. If it emerges from the review that there is physiotherapy time available, an out-patient service will be introduced.

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