asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his attention has been drawn to recent outbreaks of enteric and typhoid fever in Castletown-Berehaven, Co. Cork, resulting in the death of some patients; whether he is aware that in one case a patient had died before trained nurses had arrived to take charge of the cases; whether he is further aware that hospital accommodation at the County Home, Clonakilty, is over ninety miles away, and whether, seeing that the local hospital at Castletown-Berehaven is occupied by National troops, to the serious detriment of the sick poor of the district, and that the local Medical Officer of Health has intimated his intention of resigning if the above state of affairs is allowed to continue, the Minister will state what steps he intends to take to provide suitable accommodation for the sick poor of the district.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CASTLETOWN-BEREHAVEN HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.
I am informed that two patients in this district who had been suffering from enteric fever died early this year in their own homes. No other cases of fever have since been notified to my Department. In the particular instance to which, I think, the Deputy refers in the second part of his question the facts appear to be as stated, but I am not aware that there was any exceptional delay in procuring nursing services after the case was reported. Moreover, I understand that the circumstances of this patient would have precluded his obtaining gratuitous medical relief at the cost of the rates. At present it is necessary to send any fever cases arising in this district to Clonakilty, Cork, or Killarney. The West Cork County Board of Health made representations to the Minister for Defence in regard to occupation of the fever hospital by troops, but he has intimated to me in reply that as it is considered necessary to retain the troops in Castletownbere, and as no alternative accommodation is available it is not practicable to evacuate the fever hospital building. The Commissioner for the County informs me that there is no other building suitable for a hospital available and that owing to lack of funds he cannot at present contemplate the immediate erection of a new building. He hopes, however, to be in a position to make application at an early date for a loan for the purpose. The Deputy may be assured that I appreciate the necessities of the whole matter very fully and that I will be pleased to assist in any way possible.
Has the Minister made representations to the Executive Council that the interests of the sick poor should have precedence over those of the military in times of peace and that there is no state of emergency which would now warrant the military evicting the sick poor from hospitals?
In view of the fact that this county home is 90 miles away from these people, will the Minister take immediate steps to have that matter remedied? I think it is an awful thing to say that the nearest county home or hospital to these people is 90 miles away.
I cannot undertake to take any further steps than I have already taken.
Are we to take it that the Minister is not prepared to do anything to remedy this state of affairs or is he going to allow it to remain so? If a person is stricken with a sudden illness the hospital is 90 miles away. Does the Minister think that should be allowed to remain so?
The position is, as I have stated, that there is no other building available for a hospital at the present time. We will have to wait until another building is erected.
In the matter of sickness or disease is it the position that the military requirements in times of peace have to take precedence of the sick poor? Perhaps the Minister for Defence has something to say to this.
I do not know the particulars of this case at the moment, but from recollection I think that there would be no post in that particular place were it not for the fact that it is the terminus of one of the cables. It is for the purpose of protecting that cable that they are there. I will look into the matter to see whether it is possible to withdraw them from that particular place, and if so, will do so immediately.
Will the Minister for Local Government say whether he has taken any steps to discover a preventative for enteric or typhoid fever, and if not, if it is his intention to abolish vaccination for the prevention of smallpox that does not exist in the country?