asked the Minister for Health if there are now many mecanaid ambulifts in use in hospitals; if it is proposed to increase the number of such hoists; and if he will make a statement on the experience with them to date and on future policy in connection with equipment for lifting and conveying non-ambulant patients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Mechanical Hoists.
22.
There are approximately 60 mechanical hoists, including some of the type mentioned by the Deputy, in use in local authority institutions in this country. I have no precise information regarding the number of such hoists in use in voluntary institutions here. The provision of a further 13 hoists is at present under consideration by local authorities. While in some few cases they are not being fully used, due either to the staff regarding them as being too cumbersome or nervousness on the part of patients, the general experience is that they provide a useful service in relieving nursing staff of physical stress when non-ambulant patients have to be lifted. All applications for such hoists, as recommended by the appropriate medical authority, have been and will continue to be dealt with by me on a sympathetic basis.