asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the number of children examined under the schools medical service in Cork County since 1st January, 1954; (b) the number of children recommended for treatment for eye, ear, nose and throat ailments; (c) the number who received such treatment; and (d) the number who were refused treatment by the medical profession and the reasons therefor.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Schools Medical Service.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state (i) why members of the Cork Corporation and the Cork County Council were not invited to the conference between representatives of his Department, representatives of the Cork City voluntary hospitals, the city and county medical officers of health, and the Cork City and County Managers, which was convened to discuss the refusal of doctors to treat children for eye, ear, nose and throat ailments under the schools medical service, (ii) on whose invitation the conference was convened, and (iii) whether the cost of any increased fees which may be decided upon as a result of the conference will be borne by his Department or by the local authority.
asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that some doctors of the Cork City voluntary hospitals have agreed to operate the schools medical service for city children, but not for county children, on the grounds that financial circumstances are better in the county than in the city, and, if so, if he will state what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I shall take Questions Nos. 41, 42 and 43 together.
When in Cork in August last I discussed with members of the Cork local authorities, including the Deputy, the fact that voluntary hospitals in Cork had ceased to provide services for children sent for treatment under the school medical service. I suggested that the parties concerned should come together to see whether they could settle between them the difficulties which had arisen and I offered to send officials of my Department to assist in any way they could. While the question whether or not members of the corporation and the county council should attend at the discussion was not specifically raised, I was left with the impression that it was the wish of the meeting that the two bodies concerned should be represented by their officials. I have since confirmed that the city manager who, it was agreed, should endeavour to convene the discussion, was left with the same impression. The meeting was convened by the city manager and was held on 27th October. The question of the amount of fees payable was not discussed at the meeting. Any expenditure under the school medical service is, of course, dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947.
I am advised that at the meeting agreement was arrived at in principle for the provision of services in respect of city children, but not in respect of county children. The county council has written to the authorities of the hospitals concerned, but I understand that replies have not yet been received. The Munster Ophthalmological and Laryngological Society has stated, however, in a letter dated 11th instant to the council that:—
"it has instructed its members not to participate in the working of any school medical service scheme, with the exception of the temporary arrangement with the corporation, until a complete scheme for these services is submitted to and approved by the society".
It is a matter for consideration by the council, in the first instance, what steps it will take to fulfil its legal obligations regarding the provision of institutional and specialist services. I and the officials of my Department will be prepared to help in every way possible and I am meeting a deputation from the Cork County Council to-day to discuss the matter with them. I should perhaps mention that I understand that certain difficulties have arisen regarding the implementation of the scheme agreed at the conference in respect of city children.
The number of children examined under the school medical service in Cork County since 1st January last was 6,059. I have asked the county council for the remaining information required by the Deputy, but in the time at my disposal I have not been able to obtain it. If he wishes, I shall convey the information to him by letter, or if he repeats his question next week I hope to have the information available.
Is the Minister aware that the Cork County Council had arranged for the deputation to call on the Minister to-day, even before the questions were put down by Deputy Corry?
Is the Minister aware that, while he was present at the conference, I asked a question as to whether or not public representatives would be at the conference and it was agreed that they would? I was told that the conference was being postponed and, actually, the manager, before I came to Dublin the day the Dáil met, invited me to it. The meeting between the doctors and the representatives of the corporation and the county council and the hospital was postponed until the medical officer for Cork City, who was away for the month of September on holidays, would be back. It was not called until the 27th October — the day the Dáil was assembling. I was summoned as a representative of one of the voluntary hospitals—not as a representative of the corporation. I got no notification from the corporation nor was any member of the county council, as such, notified. I had previously asked the question in the Minister's presence so as to find out whether or not public representatives would be there.
I think that if the Deputy had listened to my reply he would have learned — as he will discover when he reads it — that my impression or recollection in the matter does not accord with his.
The Minister was present.