JOHN P. LAMONT,
Madam , - Please allow me to respond to a story on Beaumont Hospital in today's issue (The Irish Times, November 19th) under the headline "Close Beaumont and start from scratch".
This curious advice is attributed to consultant surgeon, Mr David Hickey, and your report appears to be based mainly on remarks made by him at a conference which was reported in the Irish Medical Times and followed up by RTÉ's 5-7 Live programme and other national media two weeks ago.
As I pointed out at that time, it is regrettable that Mr Hickey made no reference to a major €27 million refurbishment programme currently under way. Beaumont is about half way through this programme, funded by the Department of Health and Children. It began in 2000 and is due to be completed in 2004
A new range of windows is currently being tested as part of a €5.3 million replacement programme. Work is also due to begin in the near future on a €365,000 roof waterproofing programme, while new air conditioning units have recently been installed in the X-ray department and surgical theatres, at a cost of €355,000.
The building of a brand new 40-stage dialysis unit, to replace the existing 16-station unit, has also been approved by the Department of Health and Children and is currently at design stage. In common with all the main accident hospitals, we remain concerned about the issue of bed availability and particularly about the shortage of beds outside the hospital for rehabilitation and long-stay patients.
It is important to note that Mr Hickey's wide ranging views on nurse training, recruitment of doctors and various other matters are very much personal ones. They do not reflect the views of the hospital's board and management. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN P. LAMONT, Chief Executive, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9.