asked the Minister for Health the number of out-patient departments in Dublin hospitals; the number of people treated there annually; and the annual cost of operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Out-Patient Departments.
52.
There are out-patient departments in 35 Dublin hospitals. Figures are not available as to the number of individual patients treated annually but the total number of attendances including casualties is about 1,446,200 a year. Detailed costings are not separately available for the out-patients services which are included in the overall costs of the hospitals. For the year to 29th February, 1968, Dublin Health Authority paid £246,398 in sessional fees in respect of out-patient specialist services involving 771,989 attendances.
Is the Minister not aware of the fact that every hospital issues an annual report stating the number of out-patient attendances at the hospital? Can he not obtain these figures? Secondly, the question of sessional fees does not come into this part about the cost of operation. Did he also mention the amount collected by way of fees from patients for out-patient attendances?
The figures are not available in the detail in which the Deputy is suggesting.