asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is no ear, nose and throat specialist in Sligo-Leitrim and other counties; that the school medical scheme is breaking down as a result; and that there are about 100 children awaiting ear, nose and throat operations in County Sligo; and what he proposes to do to have this backlog cleared in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Medical Examination.
43.
The ear, nose and throat consultant for Counties Sligo and Leitrim resigned with effect from 31st March last. In Sligo, there are 99 patients, both adults and children, awaiting operations for ear, nose and throat conditions and patients from this waiting list are being called for operation in both the county hospital and Jervis Street Hospital. Arrangements are now being made, with the co-operation of the consultant who resigned, to admit further cases to another Dublin hospital in order to clear the list completely.
In the meantime the health authorities concerned are endeavouring to secure the services of an ear, nose and throat consultant who would be available to provide services locally.
44.
asked the Minister for Health the number of school medical officers attached to the schools health services in Dublin; the number in the rest of the State; the intervals at which school medical examinations take place; and if he considers the number of officers and the intervals of inspection satisfactory.
The number of medical officers attached to the school health service in Dublin is 15; the number in other health authority areas is 62.
In larger schools in the cities and in some of the counties, medical officers visit the schools every year; in other counties schools are visited every second or third year. Health authorities endeavour to secure that each child is examined three times during his national school career, first at school entry, then at the age of ten years and finally as near as possible to the expected date of school leaving.
I am satisfied that in general sufficient staff are employed by health authorities to provide a school health examination service of this type. In order to establish whether or not the type of service was satisfactory a study group, composed of officers of my Department and the local health authorities, has completed a review of the service. The report and recommendations of the study group were presented to me recently and are being studied.
Has the Minister any idea when this report will be made available?
It is at present being studied by the Minister. I am afraid I have not got the answer for the Deputy.
45.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that, whereas all children suffering from physical ailments discovered on school medical inspection are entitled to free treatment irrespective of parents' income, other children who are unable to attend school because of their physical ailments and who may need prolonged and extensive treatment, may have this treatment unduly delayed unless the parents are prepared and able to face what may be the undue hardship of paying for the treatment out of their own resources; and whether he is prepared and empowered to make an order that attendance of such specific type of cases at an ordinary clinic of the medical officer of health will be accepted in lieu of attendance at a school medical inspection which of necessity takes place only at prolonged intervals.
I have no power, under existing legislation, to make an order of the type envisaged by the Deputy.
I am concerned about the difficulties experienced by parents of children suffering from long-term defects and I am considering what provision could be made to deal with such cases.
46.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of his recent statement that a screening service is achieved only after entry to national schools, he will state what plans he has for the development of pre-school preventive health services; and when legislation will be introduced to give effect to these plans.
A study group, composed of officers of my Department, and local health authorities have made a considerable number of recommendations for the improvement of the pre-school preventive health services. I am examining these recommendations and I hope to be able to invite the views of interested bodies on them in the near future.
When I have received and considered these views, I will be in a better position to make a definitive statement on my proposals for the improvement of the service.