Vol. 502 No. 1
139 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary was refused admission to St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel; and if special guidelines are issued to referring doctors in these emergency admission cases to nursing homes. [7293/99]
I understand from the South-Eastern Health Board that the person in question was seen at the treatment room in St. Joseph's hospital, Clonmel on 14 January, following referral by her GP. An extensive range of tests were carried out and a decision was made not to admit her. The decision to admit patients to hospital is a clinical one and, in this particular case, the medical staff did not deem that the patient's condition warranted admission to hospital.
With regard to emergency admissions to nursing homes, the South-Eastern Health Board has informed me that, where an application for subvention has not been made, the admission must be approved by the board's designated senior area medical officer.
