Donal Carey
Ceist:240 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds expected to be available in County Clare during 2002; and if this includes the acute psychiatric development at Ennis General Hospital. [31871/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Beds.
I am informed by the Mid-Western Health Board that the new 40 bed acute psychiatric unit at Ennis General Hospital opened on Saturday, 8 December 2001. The new unit will replace the old admissions unit at Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis. Patients are being transferred on a phased basis. The transfer of all patients to the new unit will be completed by the end of this week.
The Government has decided in the context of the new health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. A total of 650 of these beds will be in place by the end of 2002. The break-down by region of these beds is being finalised, in consultation with the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
The Mid-Western Health Board is in the process of finalising the draft brief for identified priority developments at the Ennis General Hospital. This will include an agreed functional content for the new development on the existing hospital site and describes the role of Ennis General Hospital in providing acute services in the Mid-Western Health Board area.