Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

256 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the treatment of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who suffers from multiple sclerosis and was brought to Blanchardstown hospital on 28 October 1999 by Naas ambulance service to see a doctor (details supplied) as an out-patient; if his attention has further been drawn to the treatment this patient suffered; his views on whether this is the appropriate way to treat a multiple sclerosis sufferer; and the procedures, if any, which will be put in place to insure this treatment does not happen again. [23371/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The Deputy will appreciate that the responsibility for the transportation of patients to and from the out-patients departments of the hospitals concerned in this matter rests, in the first instance, with the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board. I have therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board to investigate the incident referred to by the Deputy and to furnish a report to him directly in the matter.