Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jul 1993

Vol. 433 No. 7

Written Answers. - Geriatric Medicine Consultants.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

20 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the claim made by a leading consultant in geriatric medicine (details supplied) that the State needs twice as many consultant physicians in geriatric medicine to meet the current guidelines; the plans, if any, he has for the provision of such extra positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The objectives of Government health policy, as set out in the report —The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly is to support the care of dependent elderly people at home for as long as possible and to ensure that when the elderly can no longer be cared for at home, there are appropriate specialist and extended care facilities to meet their needs. The priorities of service development at present are to strengthen the capacity of the health services to care for the person at home, to provide more specialist facilities in acute hospitals and to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of elderly mentally infirm.

The development of specialist geriatric departments in general hospitals and the appointment of consultant geriatricians in general hospitals has been one of the most significant advances in the care of the elderly. Such departments ensure prompt admission of elderly persons, specialist assessment and treatment, rehabilitation and in many cases continuing support in a day hospital on discharge. In the past 12 months, six new departments of medicine of old age have opened, each with a consultant physician in geriatric medicine. These departments are now operating in 16 general hospitals around the country. This means that just under half our general hospitals have specialist departments of medicine of the elderly.

It is the policy of my Department that all general hospitals should have the benefit of a specialist geriatric service. There are proposals with my Department for the appointment of additional physicians in geriatric medicine which will be approved as resources permit.