andDr. Browne asked the Minister for Health whether he accepts the recommendations of the Child Health Services Report that eligibility for free treatment under the schools medical services be dependent on parents opting for child welfare services and school medical services and that the middle income group would be given free hospital care to cover defects found outside school health examination as also for dental, ophthalmic defects etc. in similar circumstances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Health Services Report.
28.
As there are many practical difficulties involved, I do not propose that eligibility for the treatment services in question should be dependent on the parents opting to have child participate in the examination services in the manner recommended by the Child Health Services Report. I hope shortly to reach a decision on the question of eligibility for the specific services mentioned in the final portion of the question.
29.
andDr. Browne asked the Minister for Health what improvements, if any, have taken place in the school medical inspection services since the Child Health Services Report made its recommendations.
Since the report was published, priority has been given to the provision of special training in developmental paediatrics for assistant chief medical officers who will be undertaking child health examinations. Already, one-quarter of the officers have attended special training courses abroad and the Society of Medical Officers of Health have agreed to organise courses which will, during the next few months, provide appropriate training for the remainder. In the Dublin area, more thorough school medical examinations are being undertaken and the number of parents attending at the schools, to assist the doctor, has doubled. These improvements are in accordance with the recommendations of the Child Health Services Report.
Does the Minister consider it desirable to involve, or have his Department given any consideration to involving the family doctors in the child health services?
As the Deputy knows, that arose during the Health Bill. The Health Bill provides for the extension of the child health services through the use of family doctors on their own premises and, in addition, the child health clinics. I hope to be able to inaugurate the plan, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to ensure that every child under the age of six, if possible, has two expert examinations in the course of his or her life.
Does the Minister think two examinations would be sufficient?
From the expert advice I have had I would say so. If the child requires treatment he will be referred, under the various terms of the Health Bill, to the necessary specialist.