Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
211 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the help available from the Western Health Board for appointments for persons who urgently need hospital appointments for their well-being and who are in receipt of social welfare, own no form of transport, have no public transport available to them and cannot afford taxis. [1087/05]
View answerThe Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Responsibility for the provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo rests with the Executive. My Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.
212 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the guidelines for patient transport in each health board area or region, in particular transport to attend outpatient appointments, for persons who live in isolated areas, have no means of transport or access to public transport and who do not have the resources to hire private transport. [1088/05]
View answerThe Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Responsibility for the provision of patient transport services rests with the executive. My Department has requested the director of the national hospitals office of the executive to provide the information requested directly to the Deputy.
