The Health Service Executive (HSE) has acknowledged that drug dealing is a problem in some hospitals following a claim today that drug addicts at St James's Hospital are buying illegal substances while receiving treatment.
The claim was made by Croí Nua, the State's first unit dedicated to the treatment of cocaine users, based in Crumlin, Dublin.
Its co-ordinator Susan Collins said there was widespread drug dealing on the wards of St James's Hospital and two other unnamed hospitals in the capital.
She said that in some cases children were supplying their parents and that deals were being made in the concourse, the reception, the canteen and on wards.
"You can get anything you want in the hospital from coke (cocaine) and heroin to tablets and drink.
"We know of patients who have their fix delivered to them by hand direct to their bedside," Ms Collins said.
On several occasions, drug-mixing materials and other paraphernalia have been found hidden on the premises and consultant at the hospital said the problem so widespread it no longer surprised him.
Dr Patrick Plunkett, a consultant in the emergency department said: "Most of the dealing is done through friends and relatives coming in but there are some patients, who are in the minority, who also occasionally deal. The problem is so commonplace it doesn't even shock me any more."
Croí Nua was launched last April in response to the growing trend in cocoaine dependency and crack cocaine addiction and receives State funding.
The HSE issued a statement this evening in which it said "all hospitals in large urban areas, like most public buildings, face potential risks of drug dealing on their premises". It also said that over €3 million had been spent since 2003 on hospital security including CCTV.
"A number of further measures with regard to staff safety have been identified which are now going to be dealt with," the statement said.