Vol. 379 No. 6
asked the Minister for Health when approval will be given to St. James's hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8 for the appointment of six physiotherapists, as at present there are huge waiting lists of patients for physiotherapy and many are being refused treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
244.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 has been denied prescribed physiotherapy by a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. The high in-patient demand on physiotherapy resulted in the temporary suspension of treatment for outpatients. The case referred to by the Deputy was an out-patient referral and could not therefore be dealt with.
In March, St. James's hospital submitted a proposal to fill two physiotherapist posts. Approval has issued to the filling at senior level of one of these posts. Approval to fill the second post, at basic grade level, is under consideration.
My Department have met with the authorities in St. James's with a view to ensuring that the problems that do exist in regard to physiotherapy are resolved and I am confident that this can be done quickly.
