Paul McGrath
Ceist:589 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made in the provision of additional beds at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath. [1946/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
The Deputy will be aware that in August 2001 my Department issued approval to the Midland Health Board for the appointment of a design team for the Phase 2B development at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar and the interview process is currently under way. The completion of Phase 2B will see the number of beds at the hospital increase from 198 to 296. The increase in medical beds, in particular, will alleviate the difficulties encountered each winter in the hospital, while on the surgical side the development of day services and five-day wards will facilitate greater throughput and further improve the ratio of day cases to in-patient work.