Vol. 466 No. 4
101 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals under his supervision that request from women on admission details of their husband's occupation; the number of hospitals that request from men on admission details of their wife's occupation; the reason such information is requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11400/96]
Limerick East): I have had inquiries made of all the health boards and the voluntary hospitals and the following is the position. First, in all cases, details of the patient's occupation are sought on his-her admission to hospital. This information is sought for demographic planning and statistical purposes. It is also required by the Central Statistics Office in the event of having to register a death. The particulars to be recorded in the Register of Deaths are set out in the Births and Deaths Act, 1863-1994, and in regulations made under those Acts.
Second, in most cases, information is sought from both men and women in relation to their respective spouses' occupations. Health agencies request this information primarily for epidemiological and demographic planning purposes. It is also important for medical staff to obtain as much social history information as possible to assist in clinical diagnosis. For example, where both partners have high pressure occupations, in addition to family commitments, this may be an underlying cause of stress in whichever partner presents at hospital.
Third, in maternity hospitals, details of the husband's occupation are always sought, as the 1863 Registration of Births and Deaths Act requires that the rank and profession of the father be recorded but makes no provision for the recording of the mother's occupation. In practice, however, most maternity hospitals seek details of the mother's occupation for demographic planning and epidemiological purposes. The Deputy will wish to know that the recent legislation governing the registration of stillbirths, the Stillbirths Registration Act, 1994, requires that details of the occupation of the mother and of the father be recorded.
In the case of VHI patients, the VHI requires that details of the subscriber's occupation be given. It should be noted that the whole area of registration law is under review and this is a matter for the Minister for Equality and Law Reform.
