asked the Minister for Health if he will consider equipping Cappagh Hospital, Finglas, Dublin with an emergency accident first-aid station to deal with accidents occurring in the Finglas West area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accident First-Aid.
16.
In dealing with accidents the main requirements are, first, to provide first aid and resuscitation on the spot and, secondly, to transfer the patient to a hospital which has the staff and facilities appropriate to the case. First aid may be provided by a doctor who has been called to the scene of the accident or by the crew of the ambulance who have been specially trained in first aid, resuscitation and patient handling. Injured persons are then taken to a surgical hospital which has the full facilities and staff to deal immediately with such cases. In the case of certain injuries it may be necessary to take the patient to special hospitals such as the Medical Rehabilitation Centre for spinal injuries or St. Laurence's Hospital for head injuries.
The staff and facilities required for a hospital accident service are such that they must be concentrated in a small number of centres, particularly if a 24-hour service is to be available. A first aid station, as visualised by the Deputy, would be an intermediate stage between the service provided at the scene of the accident and the comprehensive service provided in the accident hospital. I do not think that there is need for such a stage. In fact, it would tend to delay the admission of the patient to the hospital where his injuries can be fully treated.
Is the Minister aware that the first aid station envisaged in this question would be situated where there would appear to be a very high percentage of minor casualties amongst the younger age group in the Finglas area which is almost completely devoid of any recreational facilities? This first aid station could, in fact, serve a very useful purpose by taking the heavy load off the specialty accident departments on the north side of the city and could be of great convenience to the people of the Finglas West area.
The Deputy is making a speech.
I cannot alter my view that these facilities should be in hospitals that are specialised for the purpose. All the information I can get from abroad confirms this.
Question No. 17 postponed.