Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I call for a debate with the Minister for Health in the House to explain the position that obtains for people living outside the catchment area of Dublin who have to travel to Dublin for medical procedures. I dealt recently with a case of a young gentleman in Donegal who is in remission from cancer but who was told by St. Vincent's Hospital that because he lived outside the catchment area he could not receive his pain relief. After much debate locally and thanks to a medical practitioner to whom I spoke and a Member of this House, who I do not want to name as he is not here today, who gave advice on the matter, St. Vincent's Hospital said it would treat the patient. The young gentleman from Convoy, Donegal, Thomas Keaveney, who does not mind me mentioning him today, went through two weeks of trauma not knowing if his treatment would be maintained in Dublin having been told he was outside the catchment area. The Minister should clarify the definition of a catchment area. In terms of the Dublin catchment area, Donegal is not in it nor are most western counties and counties outside Leinster. Neither I nor other politicians should have to intervene on behalf of a patient who travels from Donegal to Dublin whose treatment has been terminated because of a cutback in the hospital budget. It is not acceptable and the Minister should explain and find out from the HSE its long-term policy for the type of treatment the young man must have. He has suffered trauma and had to publicly speak about his condition in the media.