asked the Minister for Health if he will state the definition of a public ward for the purpose of the Health Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Definition of “Public Ward”.
The term "public ward" has not been defined for the purposes of the Health Acts in those Acts or elsewhere. It was, apparently, felt that this was a matter which could be left to the integrity of the hospitals concerned. If there is reason to believe that, in connection with the treatment of patients under the Health Acts, a voluntary or proprietary hospital is classifying as "private" or "semi-private" accommodation which, in accordance with normal practice, would be classified as public accommodation, and if a complaint is made to the health authority, there is machinery in the agreements under which hospitals have undertaken to provide Health Act services for investigation by the health authority of the complaint.