asked the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing a commission to enquire into the medical problems of the aged and the special facilities needed for their treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Problems of Aged Persons.
59.
Mr. O'Malley
Since replying to the Deputy's question on this matter on the 5th May, I have given much consideration to the problems of providing adequate services for the aged generally, both institutional services and community services. The field to be covered includes services other than those clearly within my control and I am at present examining measures to secure better co-ordination between my Department and other Departments concerned. It is my intention, also, to write to health authorities regarding improvements in the development of the services operated by them and the better utilisation of the services which can be provided by voluntary agencies. I am still not satisfied that the establishment of a commission is the quickest or most satisfactory method of dealing with the problem.
The question concerned the medical problems of the aged and the facilities needed for their treatment. Will the Minister state if his reply is an answer to the medical problems of the aged, not their social problems?
Mr. O'Malley
The social and the medical problems are all tied up together.
Would the Minister not agree that the medical problem is the question I asked about and that this is the big problem with the aged of this country?
Mr. O'Malley
I am writing to the health authorities in regard to the inception of interim measures designed to improve existing community services for old people generally. The matters I refer to include medical and nursing care, advice as to nutrition and general hygiene, the importance of early contact with cases such as the problem referred to, home helps, financial assistance, housing, physiotherapy, chiropody, laundry services, shopping, visiting, meals, social needs, and so on, covering the lot.
The main problem at the moment is the fact that old persons cannot be admitted to hospitals in Dublin City because of their age. In a reply on another occasion, the Minister said that it was the condition of the patient and not the age that determined hospitalisation. Is the Minister aware that on many occasions doctors in Dublin City have to tell lies about a patient's age in order that he may be admitted to hospital? Can he have some recommendation made to the hospitals so that old people may be admitted as patients to hospitals?
Mr. O'Malley
The problem which we are tackling is, indeed, vast.