asked the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing a scheme whereby a local authority nurse would call daily to visit the old people's flats at places such as Rathlin Flats, Captains Road, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nursing Attention for Old People.
22.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the provision of district nursing services in the Dublin area is a matter for the Dublin Health Authority in the first instance.
All health authorities were urged in circular letters which issued recently from my Department to review their district nursing services to ensure that those available to old persons were satisfactory. Following such review, Dublin Health Authority recently appointed additional public health nurses so that, with two exceptions, each group of old people's flats is served by a district nurse. The authority hope to make a service available for these two groups shortly.
The nurses visit the old persons in the flats regularly—daily if nursing attention is required at this frequency —and are on call in the area each day. However, the health authority do not consider it necessary on medical grounds to provide for daily visits by the nurses to all the old people.
As regards Rathlin Flats, I understand that, in addition to the district nurse, the Mary Aikenhead Social Council are active in the area providing social services for the old persons.
Perhaps it is not relevant but could the Minister say, of courtesy, if the local authority nurses have got an increase of £1 per week?
I am afraid that that would require a separate question. I have not the information available.
I feel I shall have to ask that question. I shall put it down for next week.