Vol. 471 No. 1
132 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health whether he has received a report from Portiuncula Hospital, County Galway; if he has made a decision regarding the future of paediatric services in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20477/96]
Limerick East): Responsibility for the provision of paediatric services in Athlone rests, in the first instance, with the Midland Health Board and the board has informed me that it currently provides an outpatient paediatric clinic at the District Hospital, Athlone and that 72 new patients and 306 return patients were seen there in 1995.
The Deputy is referring to another outpatient clinic currently being held in Athlone which is staffed by a consultant paediatrician, based at Portiuncula Hospital. The authorities at Portiuncula Hospital have confirmed that this clinic is provided at the discretion of the hospital in order to facilitate former inpatients from the hospital who live in Athlone. This clinic is in addition to the outpatient service currently being provided there by the Midland Health Board.
