asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that a child from Castlebar suffering from tuberculosis was sent to Peamount Sanatorium by the Mayo County Council, on the recommendation of the Mayo Tuberculosis Officer, in October, 1945; if he is further aware that this child was discharged from Peamount Sanatorium on or about the 8th November, 1945, due to action taken by the Mayo County Medical Officer of Health, although the Peamount authorities required the child for further treatment; if the child was discharged from Peamount without any provision being made for her transport home, or for her future treatment; if he will state under what authority the county medical officer of health acted as he did; and if he will hold a full inquiry into the case so as to prevent a recurrence of such action.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Castlebar Tuberculosis Case.
Normally the arrangements for the admission of a tuberculosis patient to an extern institution are made by the local authority on the recommendation of the appropriate medical officer of health and my Department is not made aware of such arrangements. I have made inquiries as to the circumstances of the case to which the Deputy refers and it has been ascertained that the patient obtained admission to Peamount Sanatorium as a result of recommendations from the county council staff but without the knowledge of the county medical officer of health or the tuberculosis officer. The patient had been previously in Creagh Sanatorium which is under the control of the Mayo County Council and was discharged therefrom at her father's request on 14th September, 1945. The patient was in Peamount Sanatorium from the 25th September, 1945, to the 8th November, 1945. It appears that her discharge was made as a result of a communication addressed to the sanatorium by the county medical officer of health in which he intimated to the resident medical superintendent of the sanatorium that the local authority would not be responsible for the maintenance of the patient beyond the date specified as the date of discharge. It would seem that the county manager was not aware of that action. I am having further enquiries made as to the exceptional procedure that appears to have been adopted in this case and I shall communicate with the Deputy as soon as the enquiries have been completed.