asked the Minister for Health (a) the total number of medical services cards current in the Dublin city area at present, entitling the holders and dependants to free medical and hospital treatment, (b) the number of persons covered by such cards, and (c) in respect of each dispensary district in the Dublin city area the number of current medical cards and the number of persons covered by these cards.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Dublin City Medical Cards.
The number of general medical services cards current in Dublin County Borough at 31st December, 1962, which is the latest date for which the information is available, was 26,419. The number of persons covered by these cards, that is, holders and dependants was 77,362.
As regards the Deputy's reference to free hospital treatment, I would like to point out that a person need not necessarily be covered by a medical card to obtain such treatment, free of charge, under the Health Acts. In cases of hardship a health authority can provide such services without charge, even though the person concerned is not covered by a medical card.
The reply to the third part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement and I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
Dispensary district |
Number of medical cards current at 31st December 1962 |
Number of persons covered by these cards, that is, holders and dependants |
†North City No. 1 East |
1,319 |
3,177 |
†North City No. 1 West |
2,510 |
5,850 |
†North City No. 2 |
704 |
1,407 |
†North City No. 3 |
1,281 |
2,916 |
†North City No. 4 |
850 |
2,097 |
Clontarf and Howth No. 1 |
438 |
1,351 |
*Clontarf and Howth No.2 |
209 |
649 |
Coolock and Drumcondra No. 1 |
567 |
1,113 |
*†Coolock and Drumcondra No. 2 |
1,478 |
4,082 |
*†Finglas and Glasnevin No. 1 |
1,889 |
8,801 |
†Finglas and Glasnevin No. 2 |
1,444 |
4,393 |
†South City No. 1 |
1,331 |
3,731 |
South City No.2 |
527 |
988 |
†South City No. 3 |
1,134 |
1,904 |
†South City No. 4 |
814 |
1,469 |
†South City No. 5 |
851 |
2,615 |
South City No. 6 |
1,037 |
2,648 |
†South City No. 7 |
1,409 |
4,962 |
Donnybrook No. 1 |
461 |
862 |
Donnybrook No. 2 |
503 |
1,183 |
Rathmines No. 1 |
597 |
1,252 |
Rathmines No. 2 |
664 |
1,394 |
*Rathfarnham No. 1 |
457 |
1,872 |
*Rathfarnham No. 2 |
424 |
985 |
*†Rathfarnham Nos. 3 and 4 |
1,743 |
5,977 |
Blanchardstown and Castleknock |
179 |
584 |
*†Ballyfermot |
2,101 |
10,607 |
†These districts are served by two or more district medical officers.
*These districts extend into County Dublin and the information is in respect of the entire dispensary districts.