asked the Minister for Health whether he is prepared to approve of the appointment of an additional dispensary doctor in the Drimnagh area in view of the large number of dependants of each holder of a blue card in that area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Services in Drimnagh Area.
10.
Mr. Ryan
The appointment of an additional dispensary doctor in this area is a matter for the Dublin Health Authority in the first instance and I have not received a proposal from that body for such an appointment. However, the latest information available, regarding the number of persons eligible for dispensary services in the district and of the number attending the dispensary at Curlew Road, does not appear to warrant the appointment of an additional dispensary doctor in the South City No. 7 Dispensary District, in which the Drimnagh area is situated.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister aware that the addition of Walkinstown to the Drimnagh Dispensary District will mean an increase of about 1,000 persons requiring dispensary attention in the Drimnagh Dispensary District? On that account, and in view of the fact that he will shortly make an Order authorising the transfer of the Walkinstown area to Drimnagh, would the Minister not continue in office the doctor who has given 21 years' service in the Drimnagh area?
I have no power to continue this doctor in service. The Deputy, as a member of Dublin Corporation, must know that the doctor is, or was, an employee of the Dublin Health Authority and was employed by them in a temporary capacity for a great many years. I sympathise with the doctor in the position in which he finds himself. However, I am like the Deputy—I cannot do anything about it. It is up to the doctor himself really on the next occasion on which a vacancy is advertised to ensure, if he can, that he will be the best qualified person. Then, I am perfectly certain the Local Appointments Commissioners will be delighted to recommend him.
On the Supplementary the Deputy has put to me particularly addressed to the position of Dublin South City No. 7 Dispensary District, I would say this. Even if the Walkinstown area is added, the number of eligible patients to be attended to by the three doctors in that district will be considerably less than it is in many other dispensary districts in Dublin.
11.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health the number of persons entitled to free medical attention in the Drimnagh dispensary district, the number of doctors assigned to that district, and the hours during which the said doctors are obliged to attend the dispensary.
There is no dispensary district of Drimnagh but the Drimnagh area is included in the South City No. 7 (North Crumlin) Dispensary District. On the 14th October, 1960, the latest date for which the information is available, 2,918 persons were covered by general medical services cards in this dispensary district. There are three district medical officers in the district and each attends the dispensary at Curlew Road from 9.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. each weekday.