Peadar Clohessy
Question:23 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Health the chiropody services provided by each health board in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12122/97]
Written Answers - Chiropody Services.
Limerick East): Arrangements for the provision of health services are a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board. I have had inquiries made of the chief executive officers of each of the health boards and the position regarding the provision of chiropody services in their respective areas is as follows:
Eastern Health Board
The Board provides a chiropody service through a panel of private practitioners on the basis of three treatments per annum to medical card holders over 65 years of age who require such a service. In exceptional circumstances where the patient requires additional treatment, this is provided by the board. A service is also provided to medical card holders, under 65 years of age, with a physical handicap which necessitates chiropody treatment.
Midland Health Board
Chiropody services are provided by the board to the elderly attending day care centres and to the residents in the board's institutions. Otherwise, services are provided on a sessional basis by social service councils with grant assistance by the board under section 65 of the Health Act, 1970. Some social service councils provide a domiciliary service to homebounds clients. It is the policy of the board that clients provided with a chiropody service by social service councils are referred through the public health nurses service.
Mid-Western Health Board
A chiropodist is employed by the board in the Clare area and services for the Limerick and Tipperary (North) areas are provided by voluntary groups which are grant aided by the board.
North-Eastern Health Board
The board provides chiropody services in its institutions catering for elderly patients and for patients in day care centres attached to such institutions. Arrangements are made with local chiropodists to provide such services on a sessional basis. The board has been encouraging general practitioners in its area to provide services, such as chiropody, on a sessional basis and the general practice unit currently funds chiropody services in the Abbey House Medical Centre, Navan.
North-Western Health Board
The board provides chiropody services at clinics in various locations. A chiropody service is provided for persons in the following categories — persons aged 66 years and over, expectant mothers, mentally handicapped persons and diabetics. The board employs a total of five chiropodists — four on a full-time basis and one on a sessional basis.
South-Eastern Health Board
The board provides some chiropody services on a sessional basis and, in addition, funding is provided to voluntary agencies, under section 65 of the Health Act, 1970, to provide these services.
Southern Health Board
The community care chiropody service is available to the elderly and to people at risk. The services operates from five fully-equipped clinics, plus the use of another clinic, in Cork city and county. The chiropodists also provide a service to St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork University Hospital — Diabetic Clinic only — two psychiatric hospitals and one geriatric hospital. Four full-time and one part-time chiropodists provide the services listed above. Sessional chiropodists are employed to provide services to four centres in Kerry.
A limited chiropody service is available to a number of community hospitals throughout Cork and Kerry. This service is generally provided by local practitioners on a sessional basis every month — five weeks or whenever the need is perceived by hospital staff.
Other chiropody services are arranged by voluntary organisations throughout the region as part of the service they provide to their client groups e.g. day care centres. The majority of these organisations are in receipt of funding under section 65 of the Health Act, 1970 from the board.
Western Health Board
Chiropody services are provided at clinics throughout the board's area on a priority basis with treatment available to medical card holders over 60 years of age, children and patients suffering from diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and mental or physical handicap.