asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the desirability of providing more immediate facilities for the treatment of accident and emergency cases in the Ballyfermot area, Dublin; and whether he will examine the possibility of erecting an annex for the purpose at Cherry Orchard Hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballyfermot (Dublin) Accident and Emergency Cases.
6.
In a reply which I gave to a somewhat similar question on 14th ultimo, I made it clear that I had no reason to believe that the existing arrangements for the treatment of accidents and other emergencies occurring in the Ballyfermot area were inadequate.
The Deputy's suggestion that an accident unit should be built in the grounds of Cherry Orchard hospital does not commend itself. Such a unit to be effectual should have available a wide range of medical and nursing skills and experience in dealing with traumatic work. For this reason such units are usually associated with general hospitals. I am advised that it would not be appropriate to link an accident unit with an infectious diseases hospital as the Deputy appears to contemplate.
I must confess I did not hear anything of the reply. I shall put down the question again when the Minister for Health is present, because I should like to question him more closely on it.
Is it the Minister for Finance or the "noise box" is responsible?