Vol. 417 No. 7
147 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the statutory duties of health boards in relation to monitoring the health conditions of travellers living in temporary sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The statutory duties of the health boards in relation to members of the travelling community are no different from those which relate to the community at large. Health boards ensure, as far as possible, that all appropriate health services are available to travellers and that, where necessary, these are tailored to their way of life.
Public health nurses and general practitioners in particular play a key role in the delivery of services to travellers in their areas. This has been facilitated by the practice of appointing public health nurses with specific responsibility for travellers in a number of health board areas.
In recent years there has been a greater focus on health education and special efforts have been made to reach the travelling community through the medium of videos and structured discussions with health board staff. A number of videos on immunisation, ante-natal care, chest infections, nutrition and avoidance of gastric infections have been produced by the Eastern Health Board and made available to other health boards.
The Eastern Health Board has been operating a mobile health clinic since 1986 which visits both official and unofficial halting sites. The clinic, which is staffed by two public health nurses and a driver, visits 24 sites mainly in the Dublin area. It has been active in the provision of immunisations, health education, counselling, child care advice and hospital referrals.
