asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the sanatorium at Brownswood, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, is without a resident medical officer; that the medical officer resides in Wexford, a distance of 14 miles from the sanatorium; and if he proposes to take action with a view to having a doctor available, convenient to the institution, in the interests of patients who may require urgent attention at very short notice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brownswood (Enniscorthy, County Wexford) Sanatorium.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is desirable that the medical officer should have his residence convenient to the sanatorium, and I understand that the local authority also hold that view, but that in existing conditions it has not been found possible to proceed with their proposal for the building of a new residence for the medical officer at Brownswood. I am having further inquiries made in regard to the matter.
Does the Minister think that' it is in the interests of the public health to have a doctor, paid by the ratepayers of County Wexford, residing in the town of Wexford, having left the house in Enniscorthy? The nearest place is Wexford now for the county medical officer of health. Is it in the interests of people who may be lying in their last agony not to have a doctor convenient, instead of being 14 miles away? Surely the ratepayers are the people to decide whether that is in the interest of those people who are lying in this institution without any medical attendant? I am sure the Minister or any Deputy here will have, in their last moments, not only a doctor but a specialist, even if brought from London. At the same time, people in my constituency, the majority of whom are working-class people——
The Deputy is making a speech.
I am asking the Minister if he stands over that or if he is aware of the position. That is a fair question.
That was the Deputy's original question. I have heard no supplementary.
I am asking the Minister to give me a straight answer.
The Deputy does not know the Minister.
Deputy Norton says I do not know the Minister. I do: I have seen him in Enniscorthy years ago.