North Western Health Board annual report 1979 submitted to the members of the Board at the annual general meeting 21st July 1980

摘要

The most significant development during the year has been the strides which haveudbeen taken towards relieving the problem of our overcrowded general hospitals. Theudmulti-storey block at Letterkenny has progressed right on schedule and leaves usudconfident that commissioning can take place early in 1981 as planned. In Octoberud1979 the then Minister for Health, Mr. Charles Haughey, T.D., approved the DevelopmentudControl Plan stage of the major extension to Sligo General Hospital. Rapid progress inudthe commencement of construction work in Sligo seems assured by Mr. Haughey's commitment to "cut corners" with a view to ensuring that the serious overcrowding in SligoudGeneral is alleviated at an early date.udThe special attention afforded to the problem of alcohol abuse during the term of myudpredecessor has been followed through with increased emphasis on the theme of parentaludexample and the focussing of attention on the necessity for revised legislation on the saleudof alcohol to teenagers. lt is hoped that the lead and encouragement given to the publicudin this regard will be acted upon by statutory and voluntary organisations alike, in particular by the increased provision of leisure alternatives for our young people.udOver recent years much ground work has been done in the adaptation and extension of our geriatric and smaller hospitals to cater for the community-based day servicesudfor the aged. I am happy to note that the lead given so well in earlier years by the dayudhospital services in my native Leitrim have been followed up on throughout the NorthudWest region resulting in a remarkable 80% increase in the take-up of these services duringud1979.udWhilst there has been some progress in the development of services for theudmentally handicapped with the appointment of specialist staff, the provision of furtherudresidential accommodation for the handicapped in this region has not proceeded asudquickly as I would like. This is an aspect of our services to which I feel we must devoteudincreased attention in the coming year.udA very welcome development has been the successful completion of national andudlocal agreements which facilitate the introduction, in the very near future, of a Com·udmunity Psychiatric Nursing Service in Sligo/Leitrim.