asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the general practitioners in Athlone are prepared to accept the medico-legal implications involved in the 24-hour casualty service to be provided by them in St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone.
593.
Written Answers. - Athlone Hospital Casualty Service.
592.
asked the Minister for Health the consultant cover which will be provided for the 24-hour casualty service at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone.
594.
asked the Minister for Health the precise details of the casualty service which is to be provided at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone.
595.
asked the Minister for Health if the recently announced casualty service for St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone, will provide for resident doctors on a 24-hour basis.
597.
asked the Minister for Health when the 24-hour casualty service will commence in St. Vincent's, Hospital, Athlone.
598.
asked the Minister for Health the discussions he has had with the general practitioners in Athlone regarding the 24-hour casualty service to be provided at St. Vincent's Hospital.
600.
asked the Minister for Health the discussions he has entered into with the Midland Health Board regarding the medico-legal implications of the recently announced 24-hour casualty service to be provided by Athlone general practitioners in St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 to 595, 597, 598 and 600 together.
Since I approved in principle the Midland Health Board's plan for a major rationalisation of general hospital services in the board's area I have given the question of improving the casualty service at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athlone, careful and detailed consideration in consultation with the chairman and chief executive officer of the board. As a result approval has recently been issued to the board for the provision of a general practitioner casualty service at Athlone. The hospital will be a general practitioner access hospital with 24 hour cover and in order to ensure that the necessary back-up facilities for this service are available I have also sanctioned improvements to the x-ray facilities, the physiotherapy department and to the emergency ambulance cover at the hospital.
The detailed arrangements for the establishment of the service are primarily a matter for the Midland Health Board and I understand that detailed discussions have been arranged between the board and the general practitioners for this week. The precise details of the service and the timing of its commencement will be determined following these discussions. General practitioner access schemes are in operation at a number of centres and have not given rise to any particular medico-legal problems so I do not anticipate any difficulties in Athlone. The service in Athlone does not provide for resident medical staff but a doctor will be on call at all times to handle emergencies. Consultant cover will be provided at the appropriate consultant staffed hospital which in any individual case will depend on a number of factors including the medical condition of the patient which, for example, might dictate referral to a specialised centre in Dublin.