asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction a request from the Mid-Western Health Board to allow members of the local health committee to be added to hospital visiting committees appointed by the board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Visiting Committees.
12.
I am considering a letter on this sent to my Department by the board on 6th June and will convey my decision to the board in the near future.
Is the Minister aware that this application from the Mid-Western Health Board has been with the Department for a considerable time—12 months, if not more— and that, perhaps, it might be opportune now for the Minister to make a decision in this regard? As the Minister is aware, the members of the Limerick Health Advisory Committee are anxious to appoint members to the visiting committee of the Mid-Western Health Board because they believe that in that way they will be better equipped to advise the health board than is the case at present.
This request has been with the Department since February, 1973. I do not know who was head of the Department at the time the request was considered but it was rejected. The recent application I have is from the board in a letter of June 16 and, as I said in the reply, I shall be in a position soon to convey my decision to the health board.
How soon will the decision be made?
I cannot say, but I will try to deal with it as quickly as possible.
Might a decision be given within a month?
Question No. 13.
I could not give a promise. There are some factors which have been mentioned by the Deputy that must be considered before giving such permission—the size of the hospital committees, for instance, which could be as many as 20, including all who would be involved. I do not know whether that would be a good or a bad thing.
There are similar type problems in regard to the SouthEastern Health Board. Would the Minister suggest to each health board that they notify the local health committees as to when they are inspecting hospitals in their areas so that the local committee could then appoint one or two members to accompany the members of the health board on their visits?
Question No. 13, please.
That is what Deputy Noonan is suggesting and it is that to which I shall have to give consideration. I can understand the frustration of those on local health commitees in not being involved in hospital inspections, but there are practical difficulties in this regard which must be considered. However, if a suitable arrangement can be worked out, I shall give it sympathetic consideration.
The Chair has called the next question several times.