North Western Health Board annual report 1980 submitted to the member of the Board at the annual general meeting 20th July 1981

摘要

The year 1980 has been one of continued Improvement of the healthudservices In the North West, and despite the tight financial limits we have madeudprogress on many fronts.udThe hospital services are still dominated by the overcrowding and lackudof space and facilities at both our major general hospitals, but the situation Isudnot without hope.udThe new extension at Letterkenny, soon to be opened, will serve theudnorthern part of the region into the next century; and the committment ofudfunds to the completion of planning and the beginning of building at Sligo willudmean an early start to the extension there.udOn the psychiatric front I would like to see more developments takingudplace in community psychiatry, but progress has been made In that areaudduring the year, also In the continued up-grading of the psychiatric hospitals.udI was pleased at the fact that the Minister for Health visited both ourudpsychiatric hospitals during the year and saw at first hand both ourudachievements and our outstanding problems.udThe new orthopaedic unit at Sligo Is almost complete, and theuddevelopment of the service there will bring much relief to those many patientsudon our waiting list; the waiting time for this service here is at present theudlongest in the country. The setting up of an acute rehabilitation service inudManorhamilton can then proceed, giving the first permanent locally basedudconsultant service to that hospital.udThe inauguration of a new radio system for the ambulance serviceudduring the year has resulted In a much more comprehensive coverageudthroughout the Board's region.udA significant milestone was reached in December with the admission ofudthe first patients to the Community Nursing Unit at Falcarragh, marking a newudera for the care of the aged in County Donegal. The opening of Ramelton isudnot far away and work Is proceeding on the building of the Buncrana Unit.udBut more than anything else I wished that my year as Chairman of thisudBoard would mark an increase in awareness of the special needs of theudhandicapped, and even more so, of their potential contribution to the life ofudthe community. I am proud of what this Board has done and Is doing for theuddisabled, with its comprehensive programme of centres, workshops andudfacilities. My own contribution has hopefully added a personal touch to theseuddevelopments.