asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has been called to Dr. Steeven's Hospital on six different occasions for a particular examination and on each occasion, having travelled from Waterford, he has been told that the examination has been cancelled.
Written Answers. - Cancellation of Hospital Appointment.
126.
I have had inquiries made into this matter, and it appears that on each occasion the person in question was asked to ring the hospital before travelling to Dublin in order to ensure that a bed would be available for him. This procedure is necessary since available beds may be occupied by emergency admissions at little or no notice. The patient in question did not ring the hospital prior to travelling to Dublin and unfortunately, as a result, no bed was available for him when he arrived on five occasions. On the sixth occasion, the authorities tried to alert the patient not to travel but only succeeded in getting a message to him when he was already en route to Dublin.
A further appointment has now been issued for the examination on 23 April and I trust that this will now be carried out to the patient's satisfaction.