asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a T.B. patient (name supplied) who has been in Newcastle Sanatorium for the past fourteen months made repeated application within the last six months to the assistant medical officer of health for a suit of clothes and received a reply indicating that the matter was receiving attention; if so, if he considers that there has been undue delay in this case; and if he will state the cause of the delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newcastle Sanatorium: Patient's Application for Clothes.
7.
Having made enquiries in the matter, I do not consider that there was undue delay on the part of the Health Authority in providing this patient with a suit of clothes. Deferment in complying with an application is not necessarily synonymous with delay; it is a matter for the Health Authority, acting through their responsible officers, to decide whether a particular application should be granted and, if so, at what stage, having regard to the needs of the person concerned.
Since the patient's admission to Newcastle Sanatorium in June of last year he has been supplied with two sets of underwear, two pairs of pyjamas, one pullover, a pair of shoes and two shirts. The issue of a suit of clothes to him was deferred as he was not regarded as being in need of it. As, however, there is some prospect of his early discharge from the sanatorium, a suit has been placed on order for him.
I am informed that the patient's household consists of himself, his wife and an adult son and that the present income of the household is over £9 a week. Having regard to the fact that the patient is being maintained free of charge, I do not think he has been treated unreasonably by the Health Authority in the matter of the supply of clothing.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider six months an undue delay considering that one patient in hospital, who had three times the salary of a Minister, had not a week's delay in being supplied with clothes? A man with £9,000 could get the clothes inside a week. The nurse suggested that he should see the assistant medical officer of health and he got the clothes without delay. Since I raised this matter, the man concerned has had to refund the cost of the clothing and I suppose that would not have happened had I not reported the matter.
A patient is often confined to bed.
From the time he is admitted I accept the fact that a patient is in bed, but I never heard of a man with £9,000 being supplied with clothes at the expense of the taxpayers.
8.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a T.B. patient (name supplied) in Newcastle Sanatorium who received an acknowledgment to his application for a suit of clothes on 17th February, 1960 has not yet received the clothes; and, if so, if he considers that there has been undue delay in this case.
Having made enquiries as to the circumstances in which the issue of a suit to the patient in Newcastle Sanatorium, referred to by the Deputy, has been deferred, I do not consider that there has been undue delay on the part of the Health Authority in providing the patient with a suit.
I am informed that the patient, since his admission to the sanatorium, has been supplied with clothing on three separate occasions but the provision of a suit was not considered necessary.
As it is likely that the patient will be discharged shortly a measurement form for a suit has been sent to him and on receipt by the Health Authority of the form, duly completed, the suit will be ordered.
I should perhaps, mention that, according to my information the patient is aged 63, unmarried, has no dependants, is entitled to 30/- a week Social Welfare Benefit. In these circumstances and as the patient is being maintained, completely free of charge to him, I do not feel that he has been treated unreasonably by the Council in this matter of the supply of clothing.
I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to say when did this man receive the form because the letter I have states that he applied for it six months ago and up until last week he had not received it? Would the Parliamentary Secretary inquire into the administration of the supplying of clothes to poor patients within the last six months? I said last week that the nurses and doctors were trying to organise a political organisation and had no time to look after the patients.
A person could get an awful lot of suits with 30/- a week.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary investigate the statement I have made?
I shall.