asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the North Western Health Board is unable to provide transport to bring disabled extern patients to clinics, due to lack of funds; and if he will make the necessary provision to remedy the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport for Disabled.
22.
I have had inquiries made of the North Western Health Board and have been informed that because the cost of providing transport for patients by taxi had increased substantially over the 1975 costs, the board found it necessary in July, 1976, to withdraw the taxi service. Transport for patients is, however, being provided by the board's own fleet of mini-bases and ambulances and I am assured that every effort is made to ensure that transport is available to all those genuinely in need and that nobody is deprived of a service because of the lack of transport.
If the Deputy is aware of any disabled person in need of transport to a clinic, I would suggest that he contact either the board's local office or my office.
Is the Minister aware that I have a letter in my possession from the officer in charge of transport services in Donegal, part of the north western health region, stating that we have no funds to provide transport for these patients? These are external patients who call to the clinics periodically for essential treatment. The result is that many of them going to Lifford hospital, to be more specific, are unable to attend the clinic.
I do not know who the officer is that the Deputy was talking to, but I am taking the word of the CEO of the health board area. He says from questions I asked him within recent days that mini-buses and ambulances and also private cars are available for all patients who need transport to clinics. Any cases of hardship will be examined by the board's officers if details are supplied.
The Parliamentary Secretary will agree that it should be one of the Government's priorities to provide money for people who are suffering and who could receive treatment if the necessary funds were made available to put that treatment at their disposal. What is the point in giving free medical facilities to patients when they cannot avail of the treatment of which they are in such dire need? It is a matter of the priorities being all wrong.
I want to put the record straight on this because this affects not only the North Western Health Board but the other areas as well. It happened at several others also. I want to make it perfectly clear on behalf of the Minister that there should be no case of any person especially a retarded person being deprived to transport because of lack of finance. Inquiries were made on behalf of the Minister to the CEOs—and there are only eight of them—and they have assured him and me that there will be no such case.
I will communicate further with the Minister on this matter.
I shall be delighted if the Deputy does.