asked the Minister for Health if he will state, with reference to a reply to Question No. 87 of 31st October, 1968, the results of the investigations into the circumstances of the death of a child (name supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Death of Infant.
150.
As I stated in my reply to the Deputy's previous question, a report has been prepared by officers of Dublin Health Authority for consideration by the authority. The report was considered by the general purposes committee on 24th October and will be further considered at the next meeting of the health authority to be held on December 5th. Until I have been informed of the health authority's findings, I feel that it would be premature for me to comment on the details of this case.
In the interim I have, however, been giving consideration to the improvement of the existing procedures by which cases of this kind are admitted to hospital. It seems clear to me that since Dublin Health Authority provide the fever hospital accommodation in the city, direct contact between referring doctors and the fever hospital service would be desirable, particularly in relation to the admission of seriously ill patients. I am, therefore, proposing to the health authority that they make the necessary arrangements and assume responsibility themselves for the placement of patients suffering from infectious diseases who require hospital treatment. By this means, I feel that in the present situation where beds may not be readily available, direct communication between referring doctors and the medical staff of Dublin Health Authority fever hospital service will make it possible to avoid any danger of a hold-up in the admission of patients requiring urgent hospital treatment.
Is the Minister satisfied that there are sufficient beds available in fever hospitals to cope with infectious disease cases?
The Minister does refer to the fact that beds may not be readily available but that he intends to improve the service.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that part of one fever hospital is being converted into a hospital for mental cases?
I do not get the point of the question.
I have asked is the Minister satisfied that there are sufficient beds available for infectious disease cases and the Minister answered to the effect that the Minister for Health had referred to the fact that beds may not be readily available. I then asked if the Minister is aware of the fact that part of one fever hospital is being converted into a hospital for mental cases, which are not infectious disease cases.
And the Deputy implied that this is not necessary or that the beds could be better employed?
If the Minister is going to improve the bed situation, there seems to be little point in converting part of a fever hospital into a hospital for mental cases.
The situation about infectious diseases is not constant. Many infectious diseases have disappeared; others come and go. You cannot be certain as to what complement of beds will be needed from one year to another but the Minister for Health, obviously, has taken steps to improve the service for admission of patients to hospital. That is what is required.
Is the Minister satisfied that the number of beds available is adequate to meet the needs of infectious disease cases?
I have no information on these notes from the Minister to show whether he is satisfied. I assume he is satisfied that he has taken steps to ensure that any case requiring hospital treatment will be dealt with quickly and will have a bed available and he would not be able to do that if he had not the beds.