Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 8

Written Answers. - Hospital Beds.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

176 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has a kidney problem has been summoned to the Meath Hospital, Dublin 8 on at least ten occasions for an overnight stay but was told on each occasion that his bed was not available and to go home; if he will explain to this person who has no car and has to use public transport, the reason this is happening; and when this person will be treated for this serious medical problem.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The routine for admission of patients to the Meath Hospital is that a patient is notified, provisionally, that a bed has been booked for a particular date. The patient is requested to telephone the hospital on the morning of the proposed admission, for confirmation that a bed is available on that day.

The position regarding this patient is that he was given provisional admission dates for 16 October 1992, 12 February 1992 and 10 June 1992. On these dates, when the patient contacted the hospital on the morning of the proposed admission, he was advised that a bed was not available. Provisional admission dates for 4 December 1991 and 11 May 1992 were cancelled by the patient himself. The hospital has no record of the patient arriving at the hospital and being refused admission.

I understand that the hospital has given the patient a further provisional appointment for admission on 22 July, 1992.