asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the frustrating delays experienced by patients referred for specialist examination at the Mid-Western Health Board clinic in Ennis, County Clare; and the proposals he has to alleviate this hardship.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mid-Western Health Board.
1.
This is primarily a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board who provide the specialist services at this hospital.
I have had inquiries made however about waiting lists for various out-patient clinics at this hospital and am satisfied that delays are a problem at present. I understand that additional clinics have been introduced for some specialties in recent months in an attempt to improve the situation. I understand also that further improvement is anticipated when a second surgeon, already approved, is appointed to Ennis County Hospital and when additional ophthalmic clinics are introduced. These developments should improve the situation but I shall keep the situation under close review. If however the Deputy has problems in specific areas I would be glad to hear from him.
I am very pleased with the reply. Increased staff is necessary because there are delays of over three months from the time the general practitioner has the consultations until the patients are seen. This is due to the increased numbers availing of the services——
The Deputy must ask a question.
I am pleased with the reply.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us any indication when the second surgeon will be appointed?
I am awaiting the decision of the Local Appointments Commission.
2.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the increasing difficulty in admitting geriatric patients to hospitals in the Mid-Western Health Board area; and the proposals he has to effect improvements in this matter.
There is a total of 1,373 geriatric beds in the Mid-Western Health Board area at present. The current waiting list for admission to geriatric institutions is 57. This figure is broken down as follows:—
|
Limerick city |
9 |
|
County Limerick |
11 |
|
Clare |
32 |
|
Tipperary, North Riding |
5 |
|
— |
|
|
Total |
57 |
At present three new welfare homes are under construction—one each at Newcastlewest, Nenagh and Roscrea. It is expected that these will be completed in the period 30th June to September, 1974. These will between them provide an additional 120 beds. The Mid-Western Health Board is keeping the question of institutional care for geriatric patients under review, but I think that the provision of these three new welfare homes will alleviate the present problem considerably.
I should mention that the provision of extra beds in institutions is not always the best solution to the problem of the care of the aged. In many cases it is much better to try to help old people to continue living in their own homes, with the assistance of home helps, meals-on-wheels, etc. I am endeavouring to improve these and other community services as part of the development of our community care programme.
In case the Minister misunderstood the question my question referred to geriatric patients, old people with illnesses as distinct from geriatric people. Elderly people with conditions such a pneumonia find it very difficult to gain admission.
I agree with the Deputy and anything we can do we will gladly do it.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied with the progress being made in the home help part of the community services?
Any Parliamentary Secretary, any Minister or any Deputy, could never be fully satisfied until the problem is fully dealt with. I can only say that we are encouraging people to proceed as quickly as possible.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that if geriatric people come back to their family the family are not entitled to claim the domestic help allowance for looking after them.
The Deputy is broadening the subject matter of the question. I cannot allow an extension of the scope of the question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider allocating more funds for the home help scheme so that people would be encouraged to keep the old people——
That is a separate question.
It is directly related to the question on the Order Paper and the Parliamentary Secretary mentioned it in his reply.
That was not the question asked.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider that this would be the quickest way of alleviating the difficulty mentioned by Deputy Loughnane?
I will consider sympathetically any suggestions that would help.
The allocation of more funds.
That is one of them.
3.
asked the Minister for Health if he has proposals to improve the dental services in the Mid-Western Health Board area.
I have no current proposals before me for the improvement of dental services in the Mid-Western Health Board area.
However, I understand from the board, who are primarily responsible for the provision of such services, that they are at present considering proposals for the recruitment of additional wholetime dental staff, namely, one additional dental surgeon for County Clare and one for Limerick. I will deal rapidly with any such proposal made to me by the health board. I understand also that new dental clinic facilities, containing three dental surgeries, have recently been provided in the grounds of the County Hospital, Ennis. In addition, a new dental clinic will be provided at Shannon Airport within a month approximately.
I also understand that the Mid-Western Health Board are considering a proposal to provide a mobile dental clinic to serve some isolated centres in the Limerick rural areas.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider meeting the dentists' association with a view to improving the services generally and in order to reach an agreement so that people can get the services they require? Has the Parliamentary Secretary any such proposals?
That is not referred to in Question No. 3.