asked the Minister for Health why a man (name supplied) in County Donegal who applied for an artificial limb in May 1973 has not yet received it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Artificial Limb Applicant.
33.
I have had inquiries made in this case and have been informed that the man was referred by the North-Western Health Board to the limb-fitting clinic at the National Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Dún Laoghaire where he was seen on 5th October, 1973. He is on the clinic's waiting list for admission and should be admitted within the next few weeks for the fitting of an artificial leg and training in its use. The clinic has been experiencing delays in obtaining materials and because of this and the fact that a larger number of patients than usual are awaiting artificial limbs the delay in admission has been longer than normal.
Is the Minister aware that a good deal of time was wasted in probing this man's means, which should not have been necessary, and that there was a good deal of duplication? He actually qualified for the old age pension in the meantime without very much probing of his means.
What the Deputy says may be right but there is no evidence of it before me. So far as I can gather it was not a question of means. There seems to have been some misunderstanding between the North Western Health Board and the rehabilitation centre at Dún Laoghaire. According to the health board, they wrote to this gentleman on 25th May, 1973, sending him an admission ticket for the Dún Laoghaire centre for 1st June, 1973. They told him that if he was unable to avail of the vacancy he should contact their office. They heard nothing from him in June. I concede that there has been some sort of a mix up, not on the question of means, as to whether or not this man was notified that he should appear at the rehabilitation centre in June. The first real intimation he got was on 5th October.
Would the Minister not see immediately that the delay in that case may have been due to his being unable to travel since the question of his means had not been straightened out by the health board?
If the Deputy thinks that was a factor, I will certainly have it investigated.