asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a service to provide for specialist consultations at the homes of sick persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domiciliary Care of Sick.
54.
Mr. O'Malley
There is a "flying squad" service in operation under which consultant assistance is made available in maternity emergencies and there is provision in the General Medical Services Regulations, 1954 and the Maternity and Child Health Services (Amendment) Regulations, 1964 for a district medical officer or a doctor with a maternity service agreement to call, in special circumstances, another medical practitioner to assist him.
I am considering, in connection with the White Paper proposals, to what extent an extension of these arrangements would be feasible and desirable.
Has the Minister seen observations in newspapers in Britain that the most successful part of the national health service there is the facility for specialist consultations at homes of patients; that this has saved vast sums of money and provided a much better medical service? Will he take that into consideration in determining what provision should be made?
Mr. O'Malley
Yes.