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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Jun 1980

Vol. 321 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Geriatric and Welfare Homes.

30.

asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the procedure adopted by the Western Health Board in relation to the admission of longstay patients to geriatric and welfare homes in the health board area.

Procedures for the admission of patients to geriatric homes and welfare homes in the Western Health Board area are the responsibility of the health board. I have obtained information about the procedures in use there and regard them as satisfactory.

If the Minister considers the procedure satisfactory I take it that there was no foundation for the allegations made by Deputy Leyden about the hospital?

The Deputy is now making a statement.

I am not. The Minister stated that the procedures are satisfactory and for that reason I am asking if there was any foundation for Deputy Leyden's allegations?

When the question was tabled I inquired as to the procedures that operate in that hospital. I was informed that there is an admissions committee which assesses admissions. That committee comprises the programme manager of special hospital care as the chairman, the director of community care, a consultant from the general hospital care, superintendent public health nurse, senior social worker, matron of long-stay home and matron of home for the aged. An application form containing details of the applicant's physical and mental state of health is completed by a general practitioner and sent to the superintendent public health nurse for the area. She arranges for a visit by the local public health nurse who completes an assessment form giving details of the applicant's social status, condition of housing, financial position, degree of mental and physical independence and so on.

The Minister did not answer the question.

I have announced the procedures adopted and I am satisfied that they are satisfactory.

The Minister should now answer Question No. 31.

The Minister did not answer the supplementary put to him about the allegations made.

The question was about the procedures in the hospital and, in my view, they are satisfactory.

The Minister was asked if he was satisfied about the procedures and he has answered that question.

The Minister did not answer the question about the allegations by Deputy Leyden. His answer to the supplementaries are like reading a book at bed time.

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