Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
319 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the hospice beds in the county hospital, Roscommon, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, are closed; when these beds will be re-opened; when the investigation at the Galway Hospice will be completed; the reason the Galway Hospice beds are unavailable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7756/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in counties Mayo, Roscommon and Galway rests with the Western Health Board in the first instance. The board has advised my Department that the hospice bed at the county hospital, Roscommon, is open and palliative care patients are accommodated throughout the hospital according to medical need. The board has further advised that Mayo General Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, do not have hospice beds.
I am aware that there are difficulties surrounding the operation of the in-patient unit at the Galway Hospice and that no new patients are being admitted at present. However, home and day care services are continuing to be provided to approximately 100 patients by the foundation with those patients who require consultant-led specialist in-patient care being admitted to University College Hospital, Galway.
The Western Health Board has informed my Department that an independent expert group was established by the Galway Hospice Foundation to review procedures at the hospice and that the expert group has forwarded its report to legal advisers, in accordance with the indemnity arrangements of the insurers, and the report is expected very shortly.
