asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the reduction by 66? per cent of daily papers allocated to 34 long stay psychiatric patients in St. Anne's ward of St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, since 3 March 1989; if this policy forms part of his Department's cutbacks; and the action he intends to take to rectify the situation.
Written Answers. - Cut-back in Daily Papers to Hospital.
253.
The management and operation of St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar, is the responsibility of the Midland Health Board. I understand that the board have reviewed the matter of purchasing newspapers and magazines generally and concluded that the cost of such purchases was excessive. A number of papers and magazines are still purchased for occupational therapy and rehabilitation purposes.The board have pointed out that patients have an income of their own and they are encouraged to purchase whatever publications they require.