Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the details of the most recent review of the adequacy of the capacity of the national neurosurgery facility in Beaumont Hospital; the capacity increases planned under the National Health Strategy for this service; the progress made to date in developing additional capacity under this plan; and the expected date when additional increases in capacity will be provided. [9559/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Comhairle na nOspidéal Report on Neurosurgery, (2006) recommended that the future development of safe, high quality neurosurgical services in Ireland would be best served by increasing capacity in Dublin and Cork and by improving access to neurosurgical units, including improved transport and telemedicine facilities for referring hospitals. The Report identified a need for additional investment in neurosurgical services and in the planning and commissioning of such services on a national basis.

The Health Service Executive has invested significantly in the expansion of the service at Beaumont Hospital over the past number of years. For example, in 2006 additional revenue funding of €800,000 was allocated to Beaumont Hospital, to address identified service requirements in the area of Paediatric Neurosurgery as well as other neuroscience service priorities. Within this funding a new paediatric neurosurgeon post was approved and the post has since been filled.

In 2007 additional revenue development funding of €4m was allocated to the HSE to progress the further development of neuroscience services nationally. A business case to enhance and restructure the neurosurgery unit was completed by Beaumont during 2007. On foot of this the Executive allocated an additional €1m in service development funding in 2007 to enable the hospital to make further improvements to the Neurosurgical Service. This funding has allowed for additional staff to be put in place including a temporary Consultant Neurosurgeon (8th) and a Specialist Registrar in neurosurgery. The appointment of a Consultant Anaesthetist is awaiting the outcome of discussions on paediatric neurosurgery and anaesthesia services.

In 2008 Beaumont hospital has been allocated an additional €1m within their overall allocation to support (inter alia) the continued development of the neurosurgery programme.

In addition to the revenue investment, capital funding of nearly €5.0m was allocated to Beaumont by the Health Service Executive in 2007. This funding was designed for:

Replacement equipment for the neurosurgery theatres;

Refurbishment of interventional radiology room;

Investment in intra-operative monitoring equipment; and

Investment in image linkages and a data base to improve reporting arrangements.

The 2007 capital allocation builds on the investment of €750,000 in 2006 for equipment. The commissioning of the 11th theatre which is currently underway. (This new theatre is capable of being commissioned on a 2.5 day basis with effect from this month subject to recruiting an additional three staff which were approved last year).

To optimise the use of the existing acute neurosurgical beds in Beaumont the Health Service Executive has provided additional home care packages for those patients who have completed the acute phase of their care.

To support the rehabilitation needs of neurosurgical patients in Beaumont a joint project team between the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Beaumont and the Health Service Executive has been set up to progress the establishment of an acute 25 bedded rehabilitation ward in Beaumont. The aim is to improve the outcome for patients with acquired brain injury with the provision of dedicated rehabilitation pending the patient's suitability for transfer to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. This development is identified in the draft HSE Capital Plan 2008-2013.

Paediatric neurosurgery services including trauma services, are currently provided at Beaumont Hospital. As indicated in the Addendum to the Comhairle Neurosurgery report the HSE considers that paediatric neurosurgical services will be provided, in the longer term, at the new National Paediatric Hospital. In advance of this move early discussions are underway to facilitate the optimal configuration of the delivery of paediatric neurosurgery within the existing hospital structures to ensure the appropriate delivery of the service.