asked the Minister for Health if he will take immediate steps to restore free transportation for patients from the Bandon area to Cork hospitals especially for those medical card holders who have to travel three times a week for kidney machine treatment and who are affected by the Southern Health Board circular of 5th February, 1976.
Private Notice Question. - Patients' Free Transportation.
I understand that the Southern Health Board are introducing an economy measure whereby the use of taxis in the health services will be restricted. Spending on transport for patients, apart from ambulances, by the board has been running at £250,000 a year. While patients will, as a general rule, be expected to use public transport, taxis can still be used in exceptional cases.
I understand that the board are considering special steps for co-ordinated transport of patients who are brought to St. Finbar's Hospital, Cork, for regular renal dialysis.
Is the Minister aware that there are two people in my immediate area who need to go to Cork three times a week to go on a kidney machine because otherwise they will die and does he know that the assistance officer called on these people and told them that transport will no longer be available for them? In view of the fact that unless they have the use of the kidney machine they will die, will the Minister instruct the health board to look after these urgent cases at the very least?
I do not think I need to because, as the Deputy will note, in the latter part of my reply I said I understood the board were considering special steps for co-ordinated transport of patients who are brought to St. Finbar's Hospital in Cork for regular renal dialysis.
That is in the circular the health board sent out but nevertheless over the weekend the assistance officer told the people concerned that they would not be providing transport for them.
If the Deputy can give me details this afternoon I will deal with the matter to ensure that nobody will suffer as a result of this circular.
Will the Minister say if this is an example of this kind of cutbacks we will witness in health board areas——
That is not relevant.
It is not a question of cutback.
It is even worse, it is elimination of a service.
If the Deputy wants a reply perhaps he will keep his mouth shut and let me answer.
The Minister is very touchy.
The time has passed for dealing with questions. We must proceed to the next business.
The CEO suggested the system had been abused—perhaps not deliberately. In this area the cost was £250,000 a year and I am sure Deputies will agree that is an exceptionally large amount. So far as I am concerned, it is not intended that any patient will suffer in transportation to a hospital whether in his own area, for instance, from Bandon to Cork as in the present case. Incidentally, the North Cork Health Committee did not disagree with the views expressed by the CEO. One member—I forget his name—suggested that the recommendation be rejected but he did not find anyone to second him. This is not a cutback. It is a case of over-expenditure in respect of a service that can be provided at lesser cost.
Did I understand the Minister to say that this afternoon he will do something to ensure that the two people involved will not suffer?
I have told the Deputy that if I get the names I will get in touch with the health board this afternoon.