asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the nature of the arrangements made by his Department for providing after-care treatment for tuberculosis patients discharged from sanatoria as (a) uncured, (b) quiescent, or (c) in the condition that the disease has been arrested; and whether he will further state the measures adopted by his Department to ensure that nutritional diet comparable to that provided in the sanatorium is made available to such persons after their discharge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - After-Care Treatment of Tuberculosis Patients.
The measures for the treatment of tuberculosis in each county and county borough, including the after-care of patients discharged from sanatoria, are under the control of local authorities. Patients who are discharged from central sanatoria to their own areas are advised to report to the local tuberculosis officer. A patient may leave at any time on his own responsibility without being discharged, but if he does so he is advised to report to the local tuberculosis officer. If patients in local sanatoria are discharged to their homes they remain under the care of the tuberculosis officer.
Where discharged patients require artificial pneumothorax treatment the necessary arrangements are made by the local tuberculosis officer. Discharged patients who are unable to attend at tuberculosis dispensaries are visited in their own homes by the tuberculosis officer and, in some districts, by the district medical officer of health, and by a tuberculosis nurse. Isolation, as far as possible, is advised. In the case of patients who are in poor circumstances assistance is given on the recommendation of the medical officer.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there is any provision for after-care for patients leaving sanatoria, as distinct from after-treatment? I would draw the Parliamentary Secretary's attention to the distinction between after-treatment and after-care, because there is the question of providing for the patients a similar diet to that to which they have been accustomed in the sanatoria. Would the Parliamentary Secretary say that sufficient attention is being paid to the matter of providing a nutritional diet for such people, comparable to what was provided in the sanatorium?
The matter is under the control of the local authorities.
I should like to know what the Parliamentary Secretary means by saying that the after-care of patients discharged from sanatoria is under the control of local authorities. The Parliamentary Secretary's phrase, "local authorities," is calculated to mislead. Popularly elected representatives have no administrative function in the matter. The function is reserved to an official acting under the controlling authority of the Department of Local Government and Public Health.
The Deputy ought to know the law.
I would like to know is the Parliamentary Secretary conveying to us that it is possible for the local authority to give additional butter, eggs and milk, as was the practice up to some years ago? Is it not a fact that they were prevented from doing that by an order of the Local Government Department?
I am not aware that there is any restriction on the local authority in that regard.