asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the provision of an X-Ray unit at Belmullet Hospital, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Belmullet, Co. Mayo, Hospital Facilities.
42.
This is a matter for consideration in the first instance by the Western Health Board but I understand that they have no such proposal in mind. This is a very small district hospital and I do not think that the provision of an X-Ray unit would be warranted.
Is the Minister aware that patients must travel up to 60 miles to the county hospital in order to have X-rays? In view of the economics of the situation and of the excessive travelling involved would the Minister not consider it wise to have an X-ray unit in the area?
I do not think so. This position is not peculiar to the part of the country concerned. It always has been the policy that such facilities would not be installed in very small hospitals. The nearest X-ray unit is in Ballina which is about 40 miles away.