asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons in the Republic diagnosed as (a) suffering from all forms of pulmonary tuberculosis and (b) dying from pulmonary tuberculosis in each of the years 1926, 1936, 1946, 1956, 1962 and 1963.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
6.
The information sought by the Deputy, in so far as it is available, is given in the form of a table which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the table:
|
Year |
New Cases of Respiratory Tuberculosis |
Deaths from Respiratory Tuberculosis |
|
1926 |
*n.a. |
3,369 |
|
1936 |
n.a. |
2,724 |
|
1946 |
n.a. |
2,585 |
|
1956 |
4,084 |
562 |
|
1962 |
2,236 |
387 |
|
1963 |
1,889 |
388 |
|
(provisional) |
*n.a.—Figures not available.
7.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds available for the treatment of all forms of pulmonary tuberculosis in each of the years 1926, 1936, 1946, 1954 and 1964.
The information in the form required by the Deputy is not available in respect of the years 1926, 1936 and 1946. However, in 1936 a total of 2,241 beds were available for all forms of tuberculosis. In 1946 it is estimated that 2,400 beds were available for the same purpose.
On 31st March in each of the years 1954 and 1964 the numbers of beds available for all forms of pulmonary tuberculosis were 6,132 and 2,184 respectively. The number of beds available in recent years has, of course, been adequate to meet requirements.
8.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds formerly used for pulmonary tuberculosis which have become available for other purposes connected with the health services.
Approximately 4,350 beds which formerly provided accommodation for tuberculosis patients are now in use for other health purposes.
Other accommodation released from the tuberculosis service totalling 269 beds has been used for other than health purposes—there being no health accommodation need in the area for which the accommodation would be suitable.
The future use of a further number of discontinued tuberculosis units which provided 216 beds is at present under consideration.