BORD SLAINTE AN IARTHAIR WESTERN HEALTH BOARD

Transcription

1 BORD SLAINTE AN IARTHAIR WESTERN HEALTH BOARD CEREMONIAL ORDER 2/ OCCASION; The Official Signing of the Contract for the building of a new Pathology Laboratory at Castlebar County Hospital, and the turning of the first sod on the site of the Laboratory. 2. GENERAL OUTLINE: The Contract for the building of the new Pathology Laboratory, Castlebar County Hospital will be signed by Mr. T. King, Chairman, Western Health Board and a representative of Messrs John P. McCormack and Sons Ltd., Ellison Street, Castlebar. The turning of the first sod on the site of the Pathology building will be performed by Mr. P. C. Bresnihan, M.D. F.R.C.S.I., Consultant Surgeon, Castlebar County Hospital and Board Member at 3.15 p.m. PROCEDURE: 2.50 p.m p.m p.m p.m p.m. Assemble at Nurses Dining Room, Castlebar County Hospital. Official signing of the Contract for the building of a new Pathology Laboratory, Castlebar County Hospital, by Mr. T.King Chairman, Western Health Board, and a representative of Messrs John P.McCormack and Sons Ltd., Ellison St., Castlebar. The turning of the first sod on the site of the new Laboratory by Mr. P.C.Bresnihan, M.D. F.R.C.S.I., Consultant Surgeon, Castlebar County Hospital and Board Member. Vote of thanks proposed by Senator Dalgan Lyons, vice-chairman,western Health Board, Seconded by Professor J.D.Kennedy, Professor of Pathology, Galway Regional Hospital and Board Member. Buffet in Nurses Dining Room. ^V^U <&J E. Hannan ^^^^^^^^^^ Chief Ex^utive Officer 8th January.1974

2 11th January, Sister M. Kieran, Matron, Regional Hospital, GALWAY. Dear Sister Kieran, On behalf of the Chairman and Members of the Board, and on my own behalf, I write to express to you and all sections of your Staff, our appreciation for the excellent arrangements which you made for the opening of the classrooms at the Nurses' Training School on last Monday, 7th instant. Our special thanks are due to the Catering Staff. Thank you, too, for letting me have the text of your speech which we will have bound into our Minute Book for posterity. With kind regards, Yours sincerely,.. Honr E.^ldnnan, Chief Executive Officer.

3 MATRON'S OFFICE REGIONAL HOSPITAL GALWAY - IRELAND Telephone 4141/5 Mr. E. Hannan, C.E.O. Western Health Board, Merlin Park Hospital, GALWAY 10th January, 1974 I Dear Mr. Hannan, I enclose the speech as you requested. Yours sincerely, dt*&* Sr. M. Kieran, i^ &*- MATRON

4 [C.H. A Athair agus a dhaoine Uaisle ta an-athas orm failte a chur romhaidh go leir annseo inniu. Ta muidne annseo insan Priomh-Ospideal Reiguineach an buioch do Bhord Slainte an Iarthair go h-ionduil an t-uasal Eamonn 0 h-ainnin as ucht an seomra staideir aluinn a thabhairt duinn. Ta muid an bhuioch freisin de Mhaire Bean Ui Chroffy gur oscail si an t-aras duimn 0 Ta muid an bhuioch do'n bheirt seo leanas;- An Ro-oiruinach Monsignor Mac Gloinn, an t-ard Dochan Harris beannacht a thabhairt do'n ait Beir buiochas agus beannacht agus dea-ghui do gach duine ata annseo le haghaidh na bliana nua.

5 b6rd slaince An lartam WESTERN HEALTH BOARD Telephone: Galway 7631 HEADQUARTERS, MERLIN PARK REGIONAL HOSPITAL, GALWAY. 29th January, To: Each Member of the Board: Dear Member, I desire to inform you that the next Meeting of the Board will be held in the Boardroom, Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway, at 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 4th February, 1974, to consider Agenda as set out hereunder. You are hereby requested to attend. Yours faithfully, *«M~ <^/ EZ Hawnan. Chief Executive Officer. AGENDA 1. Opening Prayer. 2. Verification of Minutes of Meeting of 7th January, 1974, (Copy herewith), 3. Authorisation of Loans as follows:- r,on»m1 Hospital Care Programme Galway Regional Hospital -., Intensive Care/Radiology/Cardiac Clinic Ballina District Hospital - Improvement Scheme Original 75,000 Supplementary 15,000 /2.

6 /3... b6no slainrje An lantam WESTERN HEALTH BOARD Telephone: Galway 7631 HEADQUARTERS, MERLIN PARK REGIONAL HOSPITAL, GALWAY Special Hospital Care Programme Welfare Home, Belmullet St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe - Sanitary Annexes - Stage 1. Welfare Home, Clifden County Home, Castlebar County Home, Roscommon Original 150,000 Supplementary 3,500 24,000 30,000 40,000 Community Care Programme Cornamona Dispensary Kilronan Dispensary & Residence Extension to County Clinic, Castlebar upplementary ii it 4,000 8,000 7, Report of Working Party on Psychiatric Nursing Services Recommendations herewith. (Original report circulated on 5th June, 1973), 5. Accommodation for Mentally Handicapped Adults transferred from Psychiatric Hospitals. 6. Report from Fire Prevention Officer and Film Show on Fires in Hospitals. {Copy of Report herewith;. 7. Re-Structuring of Department of Health. 8. Provision of Clinical Science Building for U.C.G. Medical School at Galway Regional Hospital. 9. Development of General Hospital System - Recommendations from Local Health Committees for Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon

7 /4... b6ro staince An lartam WESTERN HEALTH BOARD Telephone: Galway 7631 HEADQUARTERS, MERLIN PARK REGIONAL HOSPITAL, GALWAY on Working Party Report dated 16th November, Enclosed herewith, copy of memorandum received from Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, on proposed federation of County Hospital, Roscommon and Portiuncula Hospital. 10. Provision of Child Assessment Centre at Galway Regional Hospital to serve West of Ireland. (Report of Working Party herewith). 11. To arrange date of meeting to consider revenue budget for next accounting period and present authorised demands on Public Assistance Authorities. 12. Reports from Meeting of Standing Committees - Copies of Minutes herewith as follows:- (1) Community Care - Meeting of 12th November, (2) Psychiatric & Geriatric Care - Meeting of 10th December, Resolutions of Psychiatric & Geriatric Care Standing Committee of 14th January, 1974:- (1) Lifts - St. Brendan's Home, Loughreo: 1 "That this Committee expresses to the Board its disappointment that the lifts, so urgently required for St. Brendan's Home, Loughrea, and approved by the Committee previously and submitted to the Department on August 31st, 1973, had not yet been approved, and that it ask the Minister for his immediate approval to this scheme." (2) Development Plans - St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe: "ThG plans drawn up for the development of St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, including the conversion of the existing Admission Block to a modern acute treatment unit be not altered and that this Committee recommends accordingly to the Board." (3) Director of Mental Handicap: "This committee recommends to the Board that it restate its

8 b6no slaince An lartam WESTERN HEALTH BOARD lephone: Galway 7631 HEADQUARTERS, MERLIN PARK REGIONAL HOSPITAL, GALWAY urgent need for its own Director of Mental Handicap and that it call on the Minister for Health to approve the creation of the post." 14. Constitution of Governing Body, University College, Galway, (Memo, herewith), 15. Chief Executive Officer's Progress Report:- (1) General Medical Services. (2) Build ing Programme. (3) Scheme of Allowances for Mentally Handicapped Children. 16. Notice of Motion:- Combined Nurse Training School, Castlebar:- "Having regard to the fact that the Minister for Health has already given approval in principle to the provision of a Nurse Training School at the County Hospital, Castlebar, the Board requests the Minister to give early approval to the provision of a combined nurse training school to serve the County Hospital, Castlebar, and St. Mary's Psychiatric Hospital, Castlebar, particularly having regard to the fact that St. Theresa's Psychiatric Unit is now functioning as part of the County Hospital. The proposal to provide a combined Nurse Training School at this Centre has been before the Department of Health for some time, and is also included in our Five Year Development Plan 1973/78 for County Hospital, Castlebar." Senator M. D. Lyons, P. C. Bresnihan. ***********

9 BORD SLAINTE AN IARTHATR. Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Western Health Board held at 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 7th January, 1974, in New Lecture Rooms, Nurse Training School, Regional Hospital, Galway. 3 resent: Councillor T. King - Chairman - who presided. 3ther Members: Mr. E. Carey, Miss D. Casey, Messrs P. Concannon, J. Costello, Mrs. M. Croffy, Messrs J. Cullen, M. J. Dyar, M. J. Egan, P. Flynn, M. Gilmore, L. Hanniffy, E. Haverty, P. D. Joyce, J. D. Kennedy, M. D. Lyons, M. J. McLoughlin, J. M. Mannion, P. J. Morley, T. O'Baoill, J. P. O'Callaghan, J. P. O'Donnell, P. D. Power, M. Ryan and J. J. Tobin. Apologies: Messrs P. C. Bresnihan, P. O'Cathain and D. O'Rourke. r* attendance Messrs E. Hannan, Chief Executive Officer, T. P. Keyes, Programme Manager, General Hospital Care, D. O'Shea, Programme Manager, Special Hospital Care; P. McDaid, Programme Manager, Community Care; K. Hickey, Personnel Officer; P. O'Meara, Planning and Evaluation Officer; Dr. N. O'Beirn, R.M.S., Regional Hospital, Galway; Messrs C. Crowley, Hospital Administrator; P. J. Duffy, Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and Mr. J. O'Leary, Secretary. pening Prayer: The opening prayer was recited in Irish by the Chief Executive Officer. urses' Training School fficial Opening and messing of New Lassrooms: Councillor T. King, Chairman, stated he was honoured to be associated with the Ceremony conducted prior to the Meeting in connection with the Official Opening and Blessing of New Classrooms of the Nurse's Training School, Galway Regional Hospital and paid a special tribute to the Lady Members, Councillort Mrt. M. Croffy, who hod officially opened the Classroom and Mitt D. Casey, who had seconded the vote of thanks, proposed by Sister M. Kieran, Matron, Galway Regional Hotpitol. The Chief Executive Officer attociated himtelf with the Chairmans' remarks, and stated that at well at the absent Membert, Mr. J. Keogh, Chief Executive Officer, An Bord Altranait, Mitt M. B. Tontey, Matron, County Hotpitol, Roscommon ond Sitter M. Anthony, Matron, Socred Heart Home, /2...

10 - 2 - Castlebar had sent apologies for their inability to attend the Ceremony. Senator M. D. Lyons, Vice-Chairman, congratulated Councillor T. King, Chairman, on his appointment to the Governing Body of University College, Galway, by Galway County Council, and stated that in his opinion, the Western Health Board should also be represented on the Governing Body. The Chief Executive Officer said he would look into the position, and prepare a memorandum for submission to the Board at its next Meeting. Councillor T. King, Chairman, stated he had pleasure in congratulating Dr. M. Gilmore, Board Member, Mr. Donal O'Shea, Programme Manager, Special Hospital Care and Professor E. O'Dwyer, Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Galway Regional Hospital on their appointment to the Council for Post-Graduate Medical Education and Training and also Dr. Michael Mylotte, former Member of the Board and of the Staff of Galway Regional Hospital on his obtaining his M.D. Degree. Senator M. D. Lyons, Vice-Chairman, seconded the vote of congratulation, which was passed unanimously, the Chief Executive Officer also associating the Staff and himself with it and adding that special congratulations were due to Professor E. O'Dwyer, who had been appointed Chairman of the Council, which was a great personal tribute to the Professor as well as an honour for the Regional Hospital and the Galway Medical School. Minutes of Monthly Meeting of 3rd December, 1973, copies of which had been circulated to each Member, were adopted on the proposal of Councillor E. Carey, seconded by Mr. T. O'Baoill, and then signed by the Chairman.

11 - 3 - Chief Executive Officer stated that Mayo County Council wished to acquire land attached to the County Hospital, Castlebar for the purpose of erecting office accommodati This matter had been considered by the General Institutional Care Standing Committee at Meeting of 6th December, 1973, when it was considered that the land described in the map as Plots No. 3 and 4, should be retained for hospital development purposes and that Plots No. 1 and 2, could be disposed of to Mayo County Council. Following a lengthy discussion, it was decided,on the proposal of Councillor P. Flynn, seconded by Councillor P. J. Morley to adjourn consideration of the matter until Mr. T. Keyes, Programme Manager had met Mayo Council Sub-Committee on Office Accommodation, as agreed at General Institutional Care Standing Committee Meeting of 6th December, 1973, many Members having expressed the view that the development of the County Hospital, Castlebar must not be impeded. Report prepared by Mr. P. J. Duffy, Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages on the Reorganisation of the Registration Services circulated to each Member on 31st December, 1973, was considered and discussed at length. The Chief Executive Officer stated that responsibility for the registration service which was formerly that of the Public Assistance Authorities was now placed on the Health Boards by Section (6) of the Health Act, 1970, and Mr. P. J. Duffy, Staff Officer had been appointed Superintendent Registrar for the Western Health Board area since 1st April, It was the policy of the Department of Health to combine low workload Registrars'

12 - 4 - Districts with larger districts to provide for an improved standard of Registration, and the Report recommended both short-term and long-term proposals to this end. At present, there were eighty-six Registrars employed, thirty-eight of whom were permanent Medical Officers, three doctors were Interim Registrars, and forty-five lay persons, forty-three of whom were acting as Interim Registrars. No existing permanent Registrar would be removed, but the proposals now before the Board provided for review of their districts on their retirement. There were twenty Superintendent Registrar districts in the Board's area based on the former Poor Law Union Districts, i.e., the area served by the Workhouses, and no reduction was proposed in their numbers. Local sub-offices and strong rooms at present located in rented accommodation in the Town Hall,Castlebar, Courthouse, Roscommon and County Buildings, Galway would be transferred to the County Clinic, Castlebar; County Clinic, Roscommon; and County Clinic, Shantalla, Galway, and provision made accordingly, as to the necessary accommodation and strong rooms. Registrars were remunerated at the rate of thirty-five pounds per annum plus fourteen pence for each item registered and they could also retain the fees for Certificates issued while incompleted registers remained in their possession. The rate of fees were as follows: (i) (ii) 14p for each item registered. 47 p for a full Birth Certificate, a Death Certificate or a Marriage Certificate. (iii) (iv) 25p for a Short Certificate of Birth. 5p for a Birth Certificate for Social Welfare and certain other specified purposes. A

13 - 5 - (v) 7 p for a Death or Marriage Certificate for these specified purposes. In addition, fees of 17 p and 32?p are payable for correction of errors and for late registrations. The long-term proposals would take upwards of ten years to implement depending on the date of death, resignation or retirement of existing permanent holders of Registrar posts. In the course of the ensuing discussion, emphasis was placed on the need for improvements in certification and registration of deaths. It was stated by Mr. Duffy that the Medico-Social Research Board were very concerned about the lack of registration of deaths in this country which compared unfavourably with most other countries where a burial could not take place without registration and/or Certificate as to cause of death. Dr. Geoffrey Deane, Director, Medico Social Research Board was reported some time ago as having stated that over a period of three years in the West of Ireland, only 86.3$ of Deaths had been certified by a doctor and registered, 6.2% of Deaths registered had not been certified by a doctor, and 7.5% of deaths had neither been registered at all or certified as to cause of death. On the proposal of Mr. M. J. Egan, seconded by Councillor M. Ryan, it was resolved: (i) "That we hereby adopt Report circulated by the Chief Executive Officer on 31st December, 1973, on the reorganisation of vital statistics registration service in the Board's area, and approve of the new accommodation or premises required. (ii) "That this Board calls for the introduction of legislation to put an obligation on funeral undertakers to register the deaths of alupersons for whose 16...

14 - 6 - internment such undertakers are responsible." Chief Executive Officer reported that Comhairle na n-ospideal, in relation to the Board's proposal for the appointment of a Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist to supervise the twenty-six bed Maternity Department, County Hospital, Roscommon, suggested in letter dated 13th September, 1973, that these services for the Roscommon area should be provided at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, to where a third Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist could be appointed to provide the service for the Roscommon area. While the two Obstetrician/Gynaecologists employed at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, were most co-operative and were prepared to undertake some ante-natal clinics at the County Hospital, Roscommon, the Chief Executive Officer considered that the service suggested would not be adequate for the area to be served. Last year there were 800 Births in County Roscommon, and it was reasonable to assume that upwards of 600 of these would take place in the County Hospital, Roscommon, as opposed to the 350 Births which in fact did take place in that hospital if the services of a Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist were available there. He recommended that a Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist to be appointed by the Western Health Board and assigned to the County Hospital, Roscommon, the position to be reviewed after a period of one year, and if in that time, the services provided were not being fully availed of, the holder would be offered employment at Galway Regional Hospital, where if current trends continued with the same increase in Births there as in 1973, by that time, it was most likely that a fourth would be needed. /7...

15 - 7 - While there were objections to the employment of single-handed Consultants, the special needs of areas in the West of Ireland with low population density, long distances and poor communication needed special consideration, and what was desirable was not always practicable. Chief Executive Officer had visited the West of Scotland where conditions were similar to our own area and there they appeared to manage quite well with single-handed Consultants linked to major teaching hospital centres. On the proposal of Councillor P. Concannon, seconded by Councillor J. P. O'Callaghan the Chief Executive Officer's recommendation was adopted with the addendum that the proposal be treated as a matter of great urgency. Chief Executive Officer's report dated 1st January, 1974, circulated to each Member recommending that the delegation to Galway Borough Council and Ballinasloe Urban District Council of the Board's powers and duties under Rats & Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, in relation to their respective administrative areas be now rescinded, and that the Board take over enforcement of the Act for the entire County Galway, was adopted on the proposal of Councillor P. Flynn, seconded by Mr. M. J. Egan. In introducing his report dated 21st December, 1973, on Standards of Full Eligibility - General Medical Services, copies of which had been circulated to each Member, Chief Executive Officer with the agreement of the Board gave his Progress Report on "Choice of Doctoral "Choice of Pharmacist" Schemes. /8...

16 - 8 - He drew attention to his report dated 1st January, 1974, copies of which had been circulated to each Member giving the cost of the Schemes for the year ended 30th September, 1973, with comparative figures of the cost of the services they replaced for the year ended 30th September, 1972, from which it was to be noted that the costs had more than doubled. It was also to be noted that payments made by the General Medical Services Payments Board for medical supplies indicated that 31% was accounted for by dispensing fees. The New Guidelines for full eligibility for General Medical Services to be operative from 1st January, 1974, were now uniform for the whole country. It was intended to review the Guidelines annually in relation to changes in the consumer price index. He proposed, in future, to supply to the Board, statistics relating to General Medical Services Cards on a quarterly basis. These would be more realistic than those provided hitherto, and would be in line with those issued nationally by the Department of Health for all the eight Health Boards. The position with regard to vacant posts for doctors under the Scheme was as follows: (a) (i) COUNTY MAYO Mavo North-West Two additional doctors had been recruited to serve Belmullet, Bangor-Erris and Knocknalower areas in Nofth- West Mayo from interviews held on 19th December, They would be based on Belmullet and were expected to take up duty shortly. (ii) Ballindine: The candidate recommended as a result of interviews /9...

17 - 9 - held on 27th September, 1973, was at present acting in the vacant posts at Ballindine, and the final procedures with regard to his appointment were being concluded. (iii) Westport; The candidate recommended at interview held on 27th September, 1973, had withdrawn and another candidate from the same competition was being processed. (b) (i) COUNTY ROSCOMMON Elphin Interviews were held on 19th December, 1973, and a candidate was recommended for appointment. Processing was at an advanced stage. A District Nurse had been recruited for Clare Island and would take up duty on 11th March, She would live on the island and also serve Inishturk. On the proposal of Senator M. D. Lyons, seconded by Councillor M. Ryan, the revised Guidelines for determination of applications for full eligibility for General Medical Services recommended by the Chief Executive Officer to become effective on 1st January, 1974, were noted with approval. Minutes of Meetings of Standing Committees, copies of which had been circulated to Members were considered and noted as follows and recommendations therein approved: (i) Psychiatric & Geriatric Core Meeting of 12th November. 1973: (ii) General Institutional Core Meeting of 6th November.'73 Chief Executive Officer drew particular attention to the following matters: /10

18 '*' Report of Working Party on Psychiatric Nursing Services: The Psychiatric & Geriatric Care Standing Committee had considered the recommendation of their own Sub- Committee on the Report of a Working Party on Psychiatric Nursing Services for Health Boards, and had made their own recommendations at Meeting of 12th November, Chief Executive Officer proposed to put this matter on the Agenda as a separate item, in view of its importance for Board Meeting of 4th February, 1974, showing recommendations made by (i) the Sub-Committee; (ii) the Standing Committee and (iii) his own. This was agreed. (ii) Future Building Programme: Recommendation of General Institutional Care Standing Committee at Meeting of 6th November, 1973, that all buildings intended for long-term use be capable of taking an additional storey was adopted. (iii) Neuro-Surgery The provision of a Neuro-Surgical Unit would be considered after the appointment of a Neurologist. A vacancy for a Neurologist under the Board had been advertised by the Local Appointments Commission in December, The position was noted. The following resolution of the Psychiatric & Geriatric Care Standing Committee at Meeting of 10th December, 1973, was adopted on the proposal of Councillor Mrs. M. Croffy seconded by Mr. M. J. Egan for submission to the Minister for Health and other appropriate authorities: "Perturbed by the inordinate increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages in recent years, particularly amongst young people, and further perturbed by the

19 increase in numbers seeking treatment in hospitals because of excessive drinking, this Board calls on the Government, as a matter of urgency to ensure that: (a) Radio and Television advertising of alcoholic beverages designed to stimulate consumption by young people be discontinued; (b) present legislation be enforced strictly to curtail drinking during prohibited hours and the sale of drink to youths under 18 years; (c) arrangements be made to limit the granting of an excessive number of exemptions and licensing extensions." (l) (a) Building Programme: Mentally Handicapped Adults: Mr. Richard Barry, T.D., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health on the occasion of the Offici Opening of the Industrial Therapy Unit and presentation of prizes and certificates to psychiatric nurses at St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, on 14th December, 1973, had agreed that psychiatric hospitals were not suitable for the accommodation of mentally handicapped adults, and the Department of Health had agreed in principle that alternative accommodation should be provided for them outside the psychiatric hospitals. A report on proposals for the accommodation would be submitted to the Board in the near future. On the proposal of Councillor Mrs. M. Croffy, seconded by Mr. J. Costello, the Board called on the Minister for Health to sanction the creation of a post of Director of Mental Handicap without further delay, the proposal being already in the Department. ( D ) St. Mary's Hospital. Castlebar - Boilerhouse Installation: Two boilers of total capacity 24,000 lbs/hr are to

20 be installed at St. Mary's Hospital, Castlebar, based on a full turf-fired installation involving the provision of hoppers and mechanical handling The equipment already procured for oil-fired will be installed to allow a fully flexible equipment. installation turf/oil-fired unit. The turf-fired installation will be fully operational for the 1974 heating season. (ii) Water-Storage Tower: The tenders received for the erection of the Water-Storage Tower - closing date on 14th December, had been forwarded to the Consultant Engineer for report and recommendation. (iii) Lifts: Department of Health per letter of 31st December, 1973, had approved of the installation of three lifts at a total estimated cost of 17,500. (c) (i) Welfare Homes: Westport: Work was still progressing satisfactorily, ahead of schedule. (ii) Claremorris: building. Work is now proceeding on the structure of the (iii) Belmullet: Work was progressing according to schedule. (iv) Newcastle, Galway: Final drawings should be available for submission to the Department of Health before the end of January, (v) Carraroe: Cost plan was submitted to the Department of Health on 13th December, 1973.

21 (vi) Castlerea: Outcome of acquisition of site was awaiting on return of Mother General of Mercy Order of Nuns from Africa in the coming weeks. On the proposal of Senator M. D. Lyons, seconded by Councillor E. Carey, it was decided that the Welfare Home at Westport would be named after Major John McBride, a native of the town, a signatory to the Proclamation of 1916, who was executed following the rebellion on 5th May, Acute Unit - St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe: Chief Executive Officer confirmed that comprehensive plans had been submitted to the Department of Health on (a) The conversion of the Admission Block, St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, into a modern seventy-bed acute treatment unit; (b) The conversion of St. Enda's into a 150-bed mediumstay unit; (c) The conversion of the new building into a 156-bed Geriatric Psycho/Geriatric Unit; (d) The provision of alternative accommodation for mentally handicapped adults. Approval had been received only to the conversion of St. Enda's and in principle to the provision of accommodation for mentally handicapped adults. There was no question of accommodating this acute unit (a) above, except at St. Brigid's Hospital. (e) Alcoholic Unit; Planning for the provision of in-patient treatment for alcoholics was being done in the context of the six modern acute units to be provided in Ballina, Castlebar, Castlerea, Roscommon, Ballinasloe and Galway.

22 A special unit for the referral from these units of patients requiring specialised treatment would be provided at St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, to deal with all types of Psycho/Therapy, and would fulfil the needs of the entire health board area. This was a longterm proposal linked with the provision of the six acute units, in the first instance. (2) Appeal from decisions taken by Comhairle na n-ospideal: The Department of Health in letter of 7th December, 1973, stated that the Board's resolution adopted at Meeting of 5th November, 1973, calling on the Government to amend Section 41 of the Health Act, 1970, to allow the right of appeal by Health Boards to the Minister for Health against decisions taken by Comhairle na n-ospideal, had been noted for consideration in connection with any amendment of the Health Act, (3) Health Contribution Act, 1971; The position at 31st December,1973, of the collection of contributions under the above Act was: Year ended 30/9/ fc Year ended 30/9/ ^ While this showed a slight improvement on the position as at 31st October, 1973, as reported at Meeting of 5th November, 1973, it was most disappointing. After all final notices had been issued, legal proceedings would be taken for the recovery of outstanding contributions. (4) County Hospital, Castlebar - New Laboratories - Turning of Sod: Chief Executive Officer invited the Members to attend /15

23 at the County Hospital, Castlebar, at 3.00 p.m. on Friday, 11th January, 1974, for the turning of the first sod of the New Pathological Laboratories by Mr. P. C. Bresnihan, County Surgeon and Member of the Board. The next Meeting will be held at 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 4th February, 1974, in the Boardroom, Merlin Park Regional Hospital. This concluded the business of the Meeting. Signed: yg g=^wwffw E. Hannan. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Confirmed and adopted at Meeting of Western Health Board held on 4th February, Sigj»ea r T/j?fa«j? //[fljz. <y CHAIRMAN. d~