asked the Minister for Health if he intends to make any changes in regard to the mass X-ray outdoor units; and the number of such units that are presently available to the public in Ireland.
Written Answers. - Mass X-Ray Outdoor Units.
609.
The use of mobile mass X-ray units was discontinued in May 1977. I have no plans to re-introduce them. The service was discontinued for the following reasons:
(a) there is no need for a mobile X-ray service in Dublin as the area is adequately provided with static X-ray units in Charles Street and Dún Laoghaire;
(b) in addition there is a very good X-ray service in the country now through county and regional hospitals which was not the case when MMR was established;
(c) the number of cases of respiratory tuberculosis discovered by MMR in recent years was only a small proportion of all cases of this form of tuberculosis e.g. 5 per cent in 1973, 3.4 per cent in 1974 and 1.7 per cent in 1975. Most cases are discovered by doctors who refer patients to static units for X-ray;
(d) the finance needed to replace the units which had become unusable, would be considerable i.e. new X-ray equipment and vans;
(e) the World Health Organisation had recommended "that the policy of indiscriminate TB case finding by MMR should now be abandoned".
(f) the programme managers of community care in the health boards did not consider MMR a useful or economic service.