asked the Minister for Health the number of kidney machines installed in hospitals; and the average number of patients undergoing treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kidney Machines.
12.
The number of kidney machines installed in hospitals at the present time is 29. The average number of patients undergoing treatment per week is 72.
Can the Minister say if any request has been received by his Department for——
The initiative, again, lies with the health boards. I am not aware that there have been any proposals from health boards.
No. 13, please.
Would requests from voluntary hospitals go to the health boards, or to the old hospitals commission? It is still functioning, is it not? Is the hospitals commission still functioning?
It is, yes, on a very minimal scale.
No. 13, please.
13.
asked the Minister for Health the number of kidney machines installed in patients' houses.
The number of kidney machines installed in patients' houses is 30.
Arising from the Minister's reply—seeing that Deputy Des O'Malley——
A question, Deputy, please.
I want to ask a supplementary question, seeing that Deputy Des O'Malley has not asked a supplementary question.
A question, Deputy, please. Let us leave personalities out of it.
(Interruptions.)
I want to ask the Minister for Health has he got any demand from the Mid-Western Health Board for the installation of kidney machines in hospitals or in houses?
Question No. 14.
Could the Minister say if, when a kidney machine has been installed in a private house with the aid of considerable grants and is no longer needed, he could examine the possibility of using that machine for some other patients, or would it be possible to instal machines, not in a private system but at selected areas throughout the country rather than have the present system?
The selected areas would be the hospitals; they would be the best because they would have all the facilities.
Recommendations have been made from health boards that it is not advisable to instal kidney machines for either private or general practice; that the demand is not there.
Question No. 14, please.
Is the Deputy saying that they are not required in patients' homes?
Definitely.
No. 14, please. When the Chair calls the next question he expects to be obeyed.
(Interruptions.)