Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Health, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the planned new X-ray facility to support the expanded accident and emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The Government is committed to making tangible and sustainable improvements in our health services. This includes a major capital development being completed in phases at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The second phase of this project has already seen 29 ward beds opening in December 2017. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform governs the processes surrounding the development of healthcare projects by way of guidelines, principally the public spending code. Further rigour is demanded by and set out in relevant EU directives. All proposed projects must be submitted to the HSE's capital and property steering committee for approval and prioritisation prior to inclusion in its multi-annual capital plans.

The national development plan announced earlier this year as part of the Project Ireland 2040 policy initiative provides €10.9 billion for health capital developments across the country, including both national programmes and individual projects across acute, primary and social care. Health capital projects and programmes that are under way will continue. With regard to the provision of a second X-ray room as part of this project, my Department has been informed by HSE estates that this development had been discussed with service user groups. However, the second X-ray could not be delivered within the capital allocation for this project and, as such, has not been included in the project brief. An additional computed tomography, CT, scanner is expected to be brought online in early 2019, which will see the hospital equipped with two CT scanners, one MRI scanner, two ultrasound rooms and one plain film room.

I have been advised by the HSE that the new emergency department, which will be located on the ground floor of the hospital, will be completed and available for opening in early 2019. The HSE has further advised that there is some work still to be completed in the old emergency department to allow for the installation of a new paediatric emergency department and an extension to radiology services. The HSE anticipates that the full extension will be ready in early 2019.

Further important capital developments are expected to be completed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the near future. These include 29 ward beds, planned to open in January 2019. Further, 24 additional ward beds and a theatre suite, comprising three fully equipped theatre rooms, are due for completion in the second quarter of 2019.

The Department, the HSE, the RCSI hospital group and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital are supportive of this project, and the need for this capital development is recognised in supporting the delivery of key services to patients served by the hospital in Drogheda and the surrounding areas. As the Deputy will be aware, the new emergency department is a part of the major capital infrastructure project that is taking place at the hospital, which includes additional beds, theatres and the expanded emergency department.

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