asked the Minister for Health the transport facilities which are being made available to hospitals and outpatient clinics for persons who are unable to provide transport from their own resources.
Written Answers - Hospital Transport Facilities.
16.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report details of the arrangements as they pertain to each of the eight health boards.
Health boards generally have had to introduce measures in all areas of operation, including transport, in order to bring expenditure levels into line with available resources. I would like to assure the Deputy, however, that people in genuine need will not suffer undue financial hardship as a result of measures taken by the boards.
I want to make it clear also that there will be no reduction in the ambulance service which is an essential emergency service.
Following is the information referred to:
Arrangements made by Health Boards.
Eastern Health Board—This board provides a limited level of non-emergency transport for patients attending clinics and out-patient departments etc. These facilities are provided by the boards own vehicles only and priority is given to certain categories i.e. mental handicap, dialysis, geriatric patients and others who are unable either physically or mentally to avail of public transport.
Midland Health Board—Transport is provided from hospital locations within this board's area for patients attending out-patient clinics in Dublin. Patients who are referred by the board's consultants for in-patient treatment at extern hospitals are provided with transport.
Patients who are unable to meet the cost of necessary transport from their own resources are advised to make application to their community welfare officer for a special needs payment as provided for in section 14 of the Supplementary Welfare Allowances Act, 1975.
Mid Western Health Board—Normal and emergency ambulance transport services are provided in this board area to transport patients to hospitals as necessary.
A five day per week minibus service operates to cater for people attending out-patient clinics. Both services are available for persons who are unable to provide transport from their own resources.
North Eastern Health Board—This board provides a minibus service to out-patient clinics in Dublin from Counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath on a four day per week basis. A similar service is provided for County Louth, five days each fortnight and is supplemented by vouchers for public transport.
Transport is provided in Meath for chest clinics, psychiatric clinics and child guidance clinics. Patients from west Cavan are provided with transport for clinics in Cavan town.
North Western Health Board—This board provides transport to day-hospitals, renal dialysis units, mentally handicapped units and from hospital to hospital. The board is in the process of setting up a register of cases where special arrangements are to be made.
Special concession travel has been made available by the public transport authorities in the area on presentation of an authorised clinic appointment. Provision is also made for genuine hardship cases by the provision of a refund of reasonable expenses incurred.
Southern Health Board—Where ambulance transport to and from hospital is medically necessary, this is provided free of charge to people in the full eligibility group. Persons outside of this group are charged for the service. Normally, people attending hospitals and clinics are expected to make their own travel arrangements and to pay the costs themselves. People experiencing undue hardship may apply for a refund for all or part of the cost. The amount of the refund is usually limited to the cost of public transport except where this is not available or is unsuitable. Refunds are related to a person's means and are not made if other means of transport are available (e.g. family car or entitlement to free transport). In emergencies there is a system whereby a doctor or community welfare officer attending a patient may arrange for a taxi.
South Eastern Health Board—This board provides transport to all out-patient clinics and hospitals for medical card holders. This transport is provided by the board's own minibus service, by hired transport or by public transport.
Western Health Board—Other than emergency cases, patients attending clinics or being admitted to hospital are requested to make their own transport arrangements. In cases where people experience undue hardship in paying for their own transport costs to a hospital or clinic, refunds of all or part of the cost are made. Each application for a refund is assessed on its own merits.