asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the desire of the people living on Inishboffin, County Galway, to have a resident medical doctor appointed to the island dispensary; and, if so, the steps he proposes to take to meet this need.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inishboffin Resident Doctor.
9.
The provision of general practitioner services for eligible persons on Inishboffin is a matter for the Western Health Board. I am informed that the appointment of a resident doctor is not practical but the health board have made special arrangements for servicing the island.
Could the Minister state why he accepts it is not practicable to appoint a doctor? There has been one in the past and I understand people might be interested in taking this appointment if it were advertised. I am aware the health board are satisfied but I felt that as no progress could be made with them it was proper to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister because the people on this island are quite concerned.
I know it would not have any bearing on what Deputy Molloy has said but might I say, first of all, that there have been no complaints. I take it Deputy Molloy is speaking on behalf of some people he visited on the island.
I am expressing the wishes of the 60 people who attended a meeting on the island at which I was present. That is very representative of the total population of the island.
I said I had received no complaints from people. I accept what Deputy Molloy says.
The Minister said I represented certain people.
There are special arrangements for the servicing of this island, as there were before the choice of doctor scheme came into operation. I do not think it would be a practical proposition and I doubt even if it were advertised, there would be any response to such an advertisement.
I am sure there would be.
I am not so aware. I have no proposals from the health board in respect of this island.
The Minister will get no proposals from the health board because they seem to be satisfied. Is the Minister satisfied?
I think the Deputy will agree that the initiative must be taken by the health board.
The people on the island asked me to bring it to the Minister's attention that the Western Health Board have stated they are satisfied with the present arrangement. The people on the island are not, and they feel the Minister for Health is the person who is finally responsible for their well-being, health care and the health services available to them.
The Deputy will agree I can only act on a recommendation made by the health board.
If the Minister were to make it known to the health board that he favoured the appointment of a dispensary doctor on this island, they would accept this as a directive from the Minister and advertise the position.
There are many other islands as well as Inishboffin. I am not prepared to interfere here until there is a recommendation from the health board.
Question No. 10.
Would the Minister agree that the incentives offered to doctors working on islands are large enough?
This is Inishboffin Island we are dealing with.
I am talking about Inishboffin Island.
I would not.
Would the Minister do something about it?