asked the Minister for Health whether he will establish a proper accident ward in Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin; and if he will establish a first aid centre in a convenient location for the people living within the Ballyfermot community.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Health Services.
21.
The provision of additional facilities at Cherry Orchard Hospital is a matter for consideration, in the first instance, by the Eastern Health Board. I should mention, however, that Cherry Orchard Hospital is a fever hospital and is not suitable for treating accident cases, nor has it the specialised staff and facilities necessary for an accident hospital. Furthermore there is an excellent ambulance service operating in Dublin staffed 24 hours a day with skilled personnel who speedily convey accident victims to the acute care hospitals where appropriate facilities are available.
The establishment of a first-aid centre to cater for people living in Ballyfermot is also a matter primarily for the Eastern Health Board. A working party appointed by the board reported a few months ago and advised that emergency centres in suburban areas would need to provide a 24-hour seven-day service which would be difficult and expensive to staff and that the staff would have very little to do most of the time. They recommended that the medical organisations be asked for their views on the manning of local emergency centres by general practitioners on a rotational basis. They also advised that attention be concentrated on local facilities, including organisations such as the Irish Red Cross, St John Ambulance Brigade and the Order of Malta, and community organisations, to see what arrangements could be made on an area basis to deal with minor accidents. These recommendations were adopted by the Eastern Health Board.
Is the Minister aware that the area known as Ballyfermot is larger than the city of Waterford? Surely an area with that many people in it should have some facilities for treating accident cases. Would the Minister not agree that while the fever hospital is there, there will be nurses and medical staff available for these emergencies and that this would seem a sensible proposal to proceed with?
I would not agree. I would refer the Deputy to that part of my reply in which it is stated that the Eastern Health Board are not satisfied that what he proposes would be feasible or desirable.
Did I understand the Minister to say that there is an adequate and satisfactory ambulance service available throughout the city of Dublin capable of bringing anybody needing treatment as a result of an accident to a suitable centre quickly? Did the Minister say that?
I said that was the view of the Eastern Health Board and I accept it.
That there is at the moment a completely satisfactory accident service available to the citizens of Dublin?
For the conveyance of patients to the appropriate hospital.
Does the Minister realise that there is such a thing as serious traffic congestion in Dublin from time to time?
Of course I do.
In spite of that he is satisfied that ambulances can take persons needing accident care quickly to hospital centres?
The question deals with facilities at Cherry Orchard Hospital.
The Minister is totally misinformed about the situation.
If I am misinformed, I am misinformed by the Eastern Health Board. I do not know whether Deputy Haughey or Deputy Lemass are members of that board but that is the board's view having studied the situation.
Question No. 22.
I am not a member of the Eastern Health Board but I represent a very important section of the citizens of Dublin and I know that there is no such thing as an adequate accident service for the people I represent.
I have called the next question.
And there could not be an absolutely adequate service in any part of the country.