Vol. 235 No. 10
asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for admission to the county hospital in Tralee, County Kerry; the longest period any person on that list has been awaiting admission; and what steps are being taken to have this waiting list substantially reduced within a very short time.
47.
asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on Kerry County Council's waiting list for admission to extern hospitals under section 15 of the Health Act, 1953; and the longest period any person on that list has been awaiting admission.
48.
asked the Minister for Health whether, in view of the number of persons in County Kerry awaiting admission to general hospitals approved under sections 15 and 25 of the Health Act, 1953, he will make arrangements whereby persons in the lower income group can be maintained and treated in private nursing homes at the expense of the health authority on a certificate of urgency from their medical practitioner on the same basis as if that home had been approved by him for the purposes of these sections.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 46, 47, and 48 together.
On 30th May last the number of patients on the waiting list for admission to the County Hospital, Tralee, was 192. The longest period a patient on the list was awaiting admission was 13 months. Arrangements have been made to refer patients to extern hospitals as a means of reducing the number of patients awaiting admission to the County Hospital.
The number of patients eligible for services under section 15 of the Health Act awaiting admission to extern hospitals was 426 on 30th May last. The longest period a patient was awaiting admission was 13 months in this case also.
I am informed that, in general, urgent cases are admitted without delay either to the County Hospital or to extern hospitals.
I am having the position discussed further with the officers of the health authority in order to eliminate undue delay in the provision of treatment. My Department have already made a number of recommendations to the health authority with a view to expediting the treatment of patients.
