asked the Minister for Health if he will take action to see that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will undergo the operation he needs as a matter or urgency; if he will explain the steps which were taken when the decision to close Doctor Steeven's Hospital, Dublin 8 was made to transfer patients awaiting hip and other joint operations to other hospitals; if his attention has been drawn to the great pain being suffered by many people such as the person concerned because of the apparent lack of planning in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hip-Joint Operations.
88.
I would like to explain that the admission of a patient to hospital is a matter for the clinical decision of the consultant concerned and the hospital authority. I would suggest to the Deputy that the patient should return to his general practitioner who would be in the best position to stress the urgency of the case to the consultant concerned.
In relation to the general matters raised by the Deputy I should point out that in anticipation of the transfer of services from Dr. Steeven's Hospital facilities at the receiving hospitals were substantially improved. The improvements at the Meath Hospital included the upgrading of the Accident and Emergency Department, the provision of one additional theatre and piped medical gases and the upgrading of theatre preparation and recovery facilities. The upgrading of the Physiotherapy Department and other facilities are at an advanced stage. Those at the Adelaide included the provision of an additional operating theatre suite and a lift. Officials of my Department also participated in a series of discussions with representatives of all interested parties involved in the transfer to ensure a speedy and smooth transfer of services.
89.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement in relation to the plans, if any, which were made for the transfer of out-patients, especially those needing further treatment and those awaiting operations, and the medical records of past and present out-patients of Doctor Steeven's Hospital, Dublin 8 to other hospitals; the steps which were taken to communicate the transfers which were decided to the persons concerned; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many such patients, some in urgent need of attention have been trying in vain to establish the hospital to go to or the whereabouts of their records; and if he will now take sufficient steps to inform those concerned and the public generally where services previously provided by Doctor Steeven's Hospital are now being provided.
Consequent on the transfer of services from Dr. Steeven's Hospital facilities have already been provided in the Meath, Adelaide and St. James's Hospital to cater for out-patients who were formerly catered for in Dr. Steeven's Hospital.
Current medical records are available from Dr. Steeven's Hospital as required. Arrangements are in train to provide the necessary accommodation to house both current and historic medical records from Dr. Steeven's Hospital.
It is the responsibility of each individual consultant to notify patients on their waiting lists of the arrangements which have been made for their treatment. In addition, I should mention that following the closure of Dr. Steeven's Hospital advertisements were placed in the national papers detailing the hospitals to which services had been transferred.