asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of the period since 1st January, 1954:— (i) the number of children in Cork County recommended for treatment, under the schools medical service, for eye, ear, nose and throat ailments, (ii) the number who received such treatment, and (iii) the number who were refused such treatment by the medical profession, and the reason therefor; further, when his Department was first notified regarding the refusal of the medical profession to provide such treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schools Medical Service in Cork.
Since 1st January, 1954, 521 children have been recommended for treatment at institutions under the schools medical service scheme for eye, ear, nose and throat ailments. Fifty received treatment as a result of arrangements made by the health authority, but no information is available as to whether any of the remainder received treatment by other means.
Nine hundred and fifty children were recommended for examination at clinics conducted by ophthamlic surgeons employed by the council. Of these, 880 have been examined.
Of the children who are still on the waiting list, a large number will, in accordance with the normal arrangements, receive treatment in institutions administered by the council. It is not possible to say precisely what numbers are awaiting treatment as a result of the partial breakdown in the treatment arrangements which occurred on 1st January last, but it is estimated at half.
My Department was first informed of the difficulties which arose in connection with the operation of the schools medical service scheme in Cork County by letter dated the 25th March, 1954.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of children in Cork City and County at present awaiting treatment, under the schools medical service, for eye, ear, nose and throat ailments.
Thirty-nine children in Cork County Borough and 471 children in Cork County have been recommended for treatment at an institution in respect of defects discovered at schools medical examinations. The 39 children in Cork County Borough need treatment in respect of eye defects. In Cork County, 223 children need treatment in respect of eye defects, three in respect of ear defects and 245 in respect of nose and throat defects.
In addition to those recommended for treatment at institutions a number of children have been recommended by school medical officers for examination at clinics by ophthalmic surgeons employed directly by the Cork County Council. Of those so recommended, about 400 have not been provided with an examination by the health authority. Most of these children are in the West Cork area, where the services of an ophthalmic surgeon have not been available, but arrangements for an appointment have been made.
Of the 254 patients who have been recommended for treatment for defects of the nose and throat in Cork County, 197 are on the waiting list for treatment in local authority institutions.
No information is available as to whether any of the patients in the different classes I have mentioned have actually received treatment otherwise than under the schools medical services scheme.
asked the Minister for Health if he will give details, i.e. salaries, travelling expenses, fees, etc., of the expenditure incurred on the examination of 6,059 children, under the schools medical service, in Cork County since 1st January, 1954.
I am advised that the medical examination of school children in Cork County is carried out by the assistant county medical officers who are assisted in the work by public health nurses. These officers also perform other duties and it would not be possible to state the exact amount of the salaries and travelling expenses, paid to those officers during the period from the 1st January, 1954, to 31st October, 1954, which would be applicable to time spent on the medical examination of school children. The council has estimated, however, that in respect of the period mentioned the amounts paid in respect of salary and travelling expenses were about £1,040 and £150 respectively.
Ophthalmic surgeons are employed by the council for the examination of patients referred by the medical officers conducting the schools medical service examination. The amounts paid in fees and travelling expenses to those officers in respect of the period mentioned are stated by the council to be £355 and £99 respectively.