asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that his Department's Circular 5/87 was fully complied with in the case of a homeless person discharged from hospital (details suplied) in the Eastern Health Board region.
Written Answers. - Patient's Discharge from Hospital.
104.
I have had this matter examined by the Western Health Board. This patient was admitted to the Regional Hospital, Galway on 28 December last. Homelessness was identified as a problem and in accordance with the terms of Circular 5/87, the necessary communication was made with community care staff to allow arrangements to be made for his aftercare following discharge from the hospital.
The patient's discharge was delayed for ten days to allow these arrangments to be put in place. He was re-admitted on 28 January 1989 and discharged on 2 February. Prior to his discharge arrangements were made for a social worker to visit the patient and appropriate liaison arrangements were made with the commuinity based services.