asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state why it is considered neceseary to have an applicant for a blind pension who is unable, through illness, to attend at a local clinic, examined in his or her own home by an ophthalmic surgeon other than the ophthalmic surgeon appointed in the area for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Pensions—Examination of Applicants.
I am informed that the terms of appointment prescribed by the Department of Health in respect of county ophthalmic surgeons who normally carry out such examinations do not provide for domiciliary examination of claimants for blind pensions. As the Deputy is aware, the services of an ophthalmic surgeon attached to the Department of Health are available for such examinations.
Does the Minister not consider that a lot of time would be saved if the ophthalmic surgeon for the area was allowed to examine people in their own homes? Under existing conditions, the people who are ill and apply for blind pensions have to wait until the medical inspector comes from Dublin.
As I explained to the Deputy, the terms of appointment prescribed by the Department of Health in respect of county ophthalmic surgeons who normally carry out such examinations of applicants for blind pensions do not impose on the ophthalmic surgeon the obligation to carry out domiciliary examination, that is, examination in the person's place of residence, and I have no power, since I do not control the ophthalmic surgeons, to require them to carry out the examination in the residence of the particular applicant.
If the person appointed in the area was willing to carry out the inspection there, would the Minister approve of that, or does it rest with the local authority?
The question of the remuneration of the ophthalmic surgeon may arise, but if the Deputy will send me particulars of any case in which she is interested or where she thinks the existing procedure could in any way be modified in the interests of applicants, I will be glad to examine the matter sympathetically in order to see what can be done.
The person I have in mind lives only three miles outside the local clinic and the local officer is quite willing to examine this person in her own home, but she is informed it is not the correct procedure and that the inspector must come from Dublin. That course seems to me to be a waste of money.
If the Deputy will give me particulars of the case, I will have it examined and, if necessary, I will discuss it with the Deputy. I rather imagine if the inspector has to call it is for the purpose of making an inquiry which it is not possible for the county ophthalmic suigeon to make. If the Deputy will let me have particulars, I will have the case specially examined.