asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being suffered by some AIDS and HIV positive patients who are on low rates of special social welfare payments and who are attending drug treatment units without any assistance towards their travel expenses; if he will consider making transport services available for all such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - AIDS and HIV Positive Patients.
196.
The position in relation to the transport of patients to clinics and treatment units was outlined in my reply to the Deputy on 1 November last (Official Report, Volume 392, Columns 1109 to 1110).
Any particular case which involves undue hardship to the patient should be referred for consideration by the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. I should say that I have asked all health agencies to examine their procedures on patient transport with a view to ensuring that the minimum hardship is experienced by patients.