asked the Minister for Health if, having regard to the great contribution which physiotherapy treatment can play in the recovery of ill and injured persons, he will have steps taken to have the cost of such treatment for extern patients paid out of public funds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Physiotherapy Treatment.
59.
Mr. O'Malley
Health authorities may provide physiotherapy treatment on an extern basis for persons in the lower income group. Owing to difficulties in filling physiotherapist posts in a number of counties, there are some gaps in this service.
I presume that what the Deputy has principally in mind is the question of payment to voluntary hospitals for physiotherapy services provided for extern patients. The difficulty here is that physiotherapy does not come within the meaning of "specialist services" in the health code. This is one of the problems being examined in conjunction with the general review of the health services.