Dáil Éireann - Volume 481 - 15 October, 1997

Written Answers - Hospital Services.

Mr. Noonan Mr. Noonan

82. Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children if a dedicated unit for the elderly at Nenagh Hospital, County Tipperary has been closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16557/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt) Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt): I understand from the Mid-Western Health Board that the assessment unit for older people at Nenagh General Hospital was closed on a temporary basis on 4 August 1997.

The decision to implement the seasonal closure of the unit had been taken by the Mid-Western Health Board as a cost containment measure in the context of an overspend on allocation by the hospital.

1057

When this decision was made by the Mid-Western Health Board, the board indicated that demands for beds would be monitored on a daily basis and as a result of this, the unit was reopened [1057] on 6 October 1997, when patient numbers started to rise in line with the usual demand for beds heading into the winter.

Dáil Éireann 481 Written Answers Hospital Services.

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