Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he has issued guidelines to health boards about the provision of wheelchairs to the residents of nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3824/04]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of health services is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. All applications for aids and appliances, including wheelchairs, are assessed on the basis of need and, therefore, there are no guidelines issued on the provision of wheelchairs to residents of nursing homes. A resident of a nursing home is assessed on the basis of need for any aid or appliance, including a wheelchair. If a resident of a nursing home is assessed as having a need, the aid or appliance would normally be supplied by the local health board.