Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2004
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Hospital Services.
256 Mr. Crawford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will support and provide the necessary finance for the agreement announced by her predecessor on 29 September 2004 (details supplied); if the finances will be made available to put these agreements into action immediately; the date on which Monaghan General Hospital will come back on call; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23753/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Martin, met officials of the North Eastern Health Board and medical representatives of the Cavan/Monaghan hospital group on 28 September 2004. The Minister was briefed on progress relating to the reconfiguration of hospital services across the group, as follows: the board proposes to recruit five additional non-consultant hospital doctors to facilitate the early restoration of 24 hour/seven day medical cover to Monaghan General Hospital. Work is due to begin shortly on an expanded treatment room at Monaghan General Hospital. My Department has approved capital funding of €750,000 for this purpose. The project will be completed in a timeframe of approximately 16 weeks. The board is to furnish my Department with details of the additional revenue funding required to commission this expanded facility. The board intends to commission ten additional day beds at Monaghan General Hospital to facilitate an increased volume of elective surgery on a day basis at the hospital. My Department has approved revenue funding of €500,000 for this purpose. Applications for three consultant surgical posts to facilitate the development of surgical services across the Cavan/Monaghan hospital group have been submitted to Comhairle na nOspidéal for approval. The board is to submit proposals to my Department regarding the provision of an additional 19 beds at Cavan General Hospital, as part of the reconfiguration of services across the group.
