asked the Minister for Health whether he has seen a report of a statement made by a member of Templemore Urban Council that the town of Templemore has been left without a doctor or midwife, and that a sick man was without attention for hours; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Services in Templemore.
11.
My attention has been drawn to a newspaper report containing a statement that a district medical officer has not been available in Templemore. I am informed by the local authority that the district medical officer, Templemore dispensary district, went on sick leave, at short notice, on 4th January and did not resume duty until 26th January. The local authority appointed a private practitioner residing in Roscrea, as a substitute for the district medical officer. This practitioner acted as substitute throughout the whole period of the district medical officer's illness.
In regard to a midwife for the town of Templemore, the permanent dispensary midwife for the Templemore dispensary district has been on sick leave since the end of July, 1959. She has been replaced throughout her absence—from the end of July, 1959 to 6th February, 1960 by a midwife residing in the dispensary district and just outside the town of Templemore, and since the latter date by a midwife attached to an adjoining district. The town of Templemore, has not, therefore, been left without either a doctor or a midwife at any time during the recent absences of the doctor or the midwife of the dispensary district.
In regard to the statement that a sick man was without attention for hours, I have no information on this matter; but I am having this particular matter—and some other complaints regarding the health services in this area—investigated fully.