asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether, seeing that the original purpose of the sweepstake was to provide for the support of public charitable hospitals in the country, he has satisfied himself that a material improvement has been made in the bed accommodation in the hospitals available to the poor of Dublin; and, if so, if he will make a comparison between the present bed accommodation for the sick poor in Dublin and that which existed in 1929.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Hospitals Bed Accommodation.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part there has been an increase of 775 beds in the principal hospitals in Dublin City, as follows:—
|
General hospitals, iincluding St. Kevin's Hospital |
288 |
|
Special hospitals, including institutions for the deaf and dumb and mental defectives |
487 |
|
There has been an increase of 413 beds in hospitals in Dublin County, as follows:— |
|
|
General hospitals, including St. Colmcille's Hospital |
37 |
|
Special hospitals, including convalescent hospitals |
376 |
|
Total |
1,188 |
When the Parliamentary Secretary speaks of special hospitals I do not know what he means. Is he aware that, after the Sweepstakes have been in existence for ten years, there are still people dying in the tenement houses of this city for the want of accommodation in hospitals, individuals whose lives could be saved if there was room in the city hospitals to look after them?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to state to what extent the extra bed accommodation provided is made available for non-paying persons?
At the moment I cannot supply the information asked for by Dr. Hannigan, but I will furnish the information later on if that will satisfy him. On the question raised by Deputy Dillon about people dying in Dublin tenement houses for want of bed accommodation in hospitals, I have no information that that is so. There is no doubt that the hospital accommodation in Dublin City is far from sufficient at the present time, and we hope to make more spectacular progress within the next two years than we have made in the past.
If the Parliamentary Secretary has no such information as I suggest is available, might I suggest to him that he should consult any reputable hospital consultant in this city and ask him that question, as to whether in his opinion persons are not dying in tenement houses in this city for want of hospital bed accommodation wherein they might be adequately treated? I think he will find that the answer will be in the affirmative. That is a shocking state of affairs after ten years.