asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Dundrum Dispensary, County Dublin, is open for the reception of patients on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, between the hours of 10 and 11 a.m., when the medical officer attends, but that no facilities are available for the issue of medicines in respect of prescriptions issued until between the hours of 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the same days; and that this involves considerable hardship on old people who are obliged to visit the dispensary twice; and if he will arrange to have dispensing facilities made available during the mornings on dispensary days.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundrum (Dublin) Dispensary.
114.
Mr. O'Malley
I am aware that the hours of attendance of the district medical officer and of the pharmacist at Dundrum dispensary are as stated by the Deputy.
I am not, however, aware that the arrangements involve considerable hardship on old persons. I am informed that the Dublin Health Authority, who are primarily responsible for the services at the dispensary, have received no specific complaints regarding the type of case referred to by the Deputy. The authority have arranged for delivery of medicines by post from the dispensary in cases where the district medical officer considers that hardship would be caused if the patient had to return to the dispensary in the afternoon for drugs prescribed by the doctor at the morning session.
If the Deputy is aware of specific instances where hardship has been caused in the circumstances referred to, perhaps he would furnish me with details and I will have the matter examined.