asked the Minister for Health how many (i) dispensary districts and (ii) posts for dispensary doctors have been created or abolished in (a) Galway city and (b) the remainder of the county in the past ten years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Dispensary Districts.
8.
Mr. Donnellan
No new dispensary district has been created or abolished in the Galway city area within the last ten years. The number of posts as district medical officer in the area has, however, been increased from two to four in this period. This increase was rendered necessary by the number of persons eligible for free general practitioner services in the area, which was 11,155 on 30th June, 1962. Galway city and the surrounding rural area constitutes the Galway dispensary district and the portions of the district allocated to the district medical officers is a matter for the health authority.
In the remainder of the county no new dispensary district was created and only one dispensary district, Ardrahan, was abolished in the past ten years. The area of the Ardrahan dispensary district, in which only 564 persons were eligible for the free general practitioner service, was divided between the dispensary districts of Gort and Kinvara.
Mr. Donnellan
I am sure the Minister will agree with me that two doctors cannot do the work of three. In many parts of this area the people have to go over 12 miles to the local medical officer. Would the Minister look into it?
I am prepared to agree with the Deputy that two doctors cannot do the work of three——
Mr. Donnellan
Good man!
——but there is no need to have three doctors doing the work of two.
Mr. Donnellan
One moment. For the last 100 years three doctors were doing the work in that area. How does the Minister make out two can do it?
The people have all emigrated.
Mr. Donnellan
No.
They do not have to do so much walking.