asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the hardship caused to the people of Villierstown and Aglish, Cappoquin, County Waterford because of the lack of proper dispensary doctor services, especially for holders of medical cards; and if he will take urgent steps to have these facilities provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dispensary Services.
8.
I am not aware that hardship is being caused to the persons covered by medical cards in the areas mentioned, through lack of proper dispensary doctor services.
In fact, a continuous service has been provided for the district by the same doctor over the last nine years, and I am assured by Waterford Health Authority that the doctor in question provides an excellent service.
The Minister will be aware that since the closure of the doctor's residence at Kereens the residents of the area specified have been depending on the services of a temporary doctor who is already pretty fully occupied. In the circumstances would the Minister take steps to ensure that there is a permanent doctor resident in the area as was the position heretofore?
This vacancy will not be filled by the Waterford Health Authority. They never had any complaints about the service which the doctor who is in charge of the service there has provided since 1961. If one examines the geographical area here and bears in mind the choice of doctor principle will commence on April 1st, 1971, one could not possibly recommend the appointment of a district medical officer here, having regard to the average distances between dispensary doctors and other doctors the choice of whom will be available to the people concerned.
There is deep anxiety in the area and this was made known to me on my many visits there.
I have looked at the whole map of Ireland in regard to dispensary residences and their distances from each other. In the modern world with the growth of better communications and of the car population, it would not be part of the policy to establish medical officerships in such an area having regard to the number of doctors who are adjacent.
9.
asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the long delay in providing a dispensary doctor and other health facilities for Ballingarry, Thurles, County Tipperary; and whether, in view of the wide hardship caused to the people of the area through the lack of these facilities, he will take special steps to resolve the matter.
I am aware that the health authority has so far been unsuccessful in the efforts it has been making since 1967 to appoint, on the recommendation of the Local Appointments Commissioners, a permanent dispensary doctor for Ballingarry.
I understand that the health authority has recently renovated the dispensary residence and has succeeded in appointing a dispensary doctor in the district on a temporary basis. I hope that the health authority will be able to keep the post filled pending the introduction of the proposed new general medical service with choice of doctor.
The Minister will be aware from his brief on this subject——
Has the Deputy a question to ask? The Deputy cannot make a statement.
——that there is a particularly difficult problem arising here in respect of the appointment of a permanent doctor. I am putting it to the Minister that special endeavours should be made to secure the appointment of a permanent doctor. Temporary doctors we have had to contend with in that area in recent years have simply not been satisfactory or not good enough for the people of the area.
I have had no complaints against the service being performed by the present temporary holder of the office.