asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his attention has been directed to a statement made on the 7th instant at a coroner's inquest in Dublin, to the effect that a medical doctor endeavoured to have a patient admitted to hospital for urgent treatment, but that several hospitals which had been approached had stated that no bed was available for the patient; whether he is aware that the patient in question died before an operation could be performed on him; whether he is aware that serious difficulties are experienced by poor persons in securing admission to Dublin hospitals, and whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy the position in this respect.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Accommodation in Dublin.
My attention was not drawn to the statement in question. I have no information in the matter beyond what appeared in the public Press. I have no information as to the second and third parts of the Deputy's question. As regards his final query, his attention is called to the remarks in the First General Report of the Hospitals Commission in relation to the hospital situation in Dublin. The recommendations in that report are now the subject of consideration in my Department.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the sums of money already allocated from sweepstake funds to each of the Dublin hospitals, the number of beds in each such hospital, and the number of such beds allocated to non-paying patients.
The grants to hospitals from the proceeds of the first six sweepstakes, the total bed complement of each hospital, and an analysis of the number of paying and non-paying patients will be found in the First General Report of the Hospitals Commission. I shall have a statement compiled and sent to the Deputy, bringing the information with regard to the grants to Dublin hospitals up to 30th June last.