Vol. 524 No. 2
269 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in providing an urgent heart operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is a public patient on a waiting list at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; if he will expedite the case; his views on the waiting list; and the plans he has in this regard. [21967/00]
The provision of medical treatment in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.
270 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the system operating within the North Eastern Health Board area with regard to systematic call out doctors; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the charge for visits are now ranging at approximately £40 per visit; his views on whether people who are ill would be reluctant to avail of this service on an economic basis; his further view that this type of operation would not be in the best interest of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21968/00]
The north east DOC pilot was officially launched on 18 September 2000. General practitioners in the North Eastern Health Board area together with five general practitioners from the Balbriggan area joined the project which is designed to give easy access to patients, both private and medical card holders, to an efficient and improved out of hours service. The consultation charge for private patients is not a matter for the North Eastern Health Board or the Department of Health and Children since this represents a private contract between the patient and the doctor. There is no charge for domiciliary visits for medical card holders who avail of the out of hours service.
