asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware of any, and if so what, regulations are prescribed for the protection of personnel employed in sanatoria throughout the country with a view to preventing such personnel from contracting tuberculosis; and further, if he will state the names of sanatoria in which he is satisfied that these regulations are enforced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sanatorium Staffs and Infection.
A circular was issued on the 7th September, 1945, indicating the steps which should be taken by local authorities with a view to safeguarding the staffs of sanatoria under their control. It was recommended that arrangements should be made for tuberculin tests to be carried out with their consent on members under 30 years of age of such medical, nursing and domestic staffs, and that negative reactors should be retested every three months until their conversion to positive reaction. In the case of persons giving a positive reaction to the test, clinical and radiological examinations together with a blood sedimentation test were recommended, and it was emphasised that the health of all members on the staffs of hospitals whose duties are likely to bring them into contact with cases of tuberculosis known or suspected to be infective, should be under constant surveillance by the medical officers of the hospital.
Members of the staffs of sanatoria were invited to avail of the various means of prophylaxis and to signify their consent in writing.
The response to this invitation was disappointing in several sanatoria, as many members of the staffs refused to undergo the tests. The medical officers continue to impress upon the staffs the advisability of taking the necessary precautions, and it is hoped that in due course all such staffs will realise that these precautions have been recommended in their own interests.
It is not possible to apply these recommendations compulsorily as the consent of each member of the staff is required before the tests can be carried out. It is my intention to ascertain at the expiration of 12 months from the date of issue of the circular how far the recommendations have been implemented. This period has not yet expired and it is not possible at present to state the names of the sanatoria in which they have been fully implemented.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that a number of former members of the staff of Creagh Sanatorium, County Mayo, have developed tuberculosis; if he will state whether there are any regulations applying in this institution for the protection of the health of the staff; and if so, whether they have been enforced.
Since Creagh Sanatorium was opened in 1928, four members of the staff have been found to be suffering from tuberculosis. According to the information supplied to me by the local authority, the sanatorium staff refused to undergo the tests recommended for medical, nursing and domestic staffs employed in sanatoria.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that Mary Margaret O'Malley, employed for over three years at Creagh Sanatorium, contracted tuberculosis while working there and died recently; if he is further aware that this girl was sent back to her home, where there were eight young children, while she was suffering from open tuberculosis; if he is satisfied that this girl was sent to her home after the disease was diagnosed; and if he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar action in the future.
The facts of this case are not as stated by the Deputy.
Miss Mary Margaret O'Malley was employed in Creagh Sanatorium from the 17th September, 1942. She reported ill on the 2nd December, 1945, was immediately X-rayed and was certified to be suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis on 5th December, 1945. She was offered treatment in either Creagh Sanatorium, Peamount Sanatorium or the district hospital, Castlebar, but she refused to accept any treatment in sanatoria or hospital and was treated in her private room in the sanatorium until the 15th December, 1945, when she left against the advice of the medical officer and the matron. Miss O'Malley proceeded to visit an aunt who resided at a distance of 50 miles from her home. On the 9th March, 1946, the dispensary medical officer of Louisburgh recommended her for treatment. She was admitted to the district hospital, Castlebar, on the 22nd March, 1946, and died there on 19th of May.
The family contacts were X-rayed. Two of the children were found to be suffering from primary tuberculosis and are awaiting admission to Peamount Sanatorium.
I may add that on the 10th January the matron of the sanatorium received a letter from Miss O'Malley thanking her for her kindness and expressing the wish that should she recover her health she would be permitted to return to her employment under the matron.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that when employees of sanatoria develop tuberculosis, arising out of the nature of their work, they cannot recover compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and if he will forthwith introduce legislation to put employees of sanatoria, who develop tuberculosis, in the same position as applicants suffering from an industrial disease, within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation code.
Tuberculosis is not an industrial disease within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1934, but under the Act any workman is entitled to recover compensation in respect of a disease which is not an industrial disease if such disease is a personal injury by accident within the meaning of the Act.
An officer of a local authority who contracts tuberculosis may, however, be granted specially advantageous sick leave pay as follows:—
Six months on full pay followed by six months on three-quarters pay and by six months on half pay. These sick leave payments are more beneficial than those payable under the Workmen's Compensation Act.
An amendment of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1934, is a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Will the Minister say what final compensation will be given to a nurse who breaks down in a hospital for tuberculosis where she was not fully trained and where the hospital took in a tubercular patient? The nurse was a probationer and she broke down. What compensation can be made available to such persons?
That is a separate question.
May I have an answer to the question I put to the Minister?
The question was a separate one, not relevant to the one on the Order Paper.
It is a question about a nurse breaking down in a tuberculosis institution. For 12 months they can be paid, but at the end of that time what will they get? Are they to be fired out, or sent home to their parents?
That is a separate question.
I hold it is not.