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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

288 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children if there are regulations about basic requirements for geriatric hospitals, such as space per patient, number of bathrooms, and showers, particularly with regard to older buildings. [11147/02]

My Department is involved in the design brief development of community nursing units-community hospitals and ensures that best practice standards are specified and scheduled for the procurement process.

Community nursing units-community hospitals are designed to current best practice standards which include adequate space per patient for day-treatment-bed-toilet accommodation. The space per patient varies and relates to the type of patient being accommodated. More dependent patients require greater bed space than ambulant patients who can avail of and use day-dining facilities.

Adequate toilet accommodation – bath, shower, WC, wash hand basin – is provided to each unit-hospital to meet the needs of the patients, staff and visitors. Toilet accommodation is designed and located to minimise travel distances for users, including those with disabilities. All facilities are designed to comply the requirement of the building regulations.

Many older buildings do not meet current standards, particularly related to the number and location of toilet facilities, access for people with disabilities and area per patient. This is primarily due to the plan format, structure and number of floors of the buildings which allow little flexibility for upgrading to current standards. Upgrading of many older buildings has been carried out by the health agencies and while, in some cases, further upgrading is required to meet current standards, a substantial improvement in patient comfort and privacy has been achieved.
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