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WQ.390/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
BY SENATOR S.C. FERGUSON
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 4th OCTOBER 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 11th OCTOBER 2021
Question
Will the Minister state what provision, if any, is made for patient transport for clinics that operate at the General Hospital on Saturdays (in particular the renal clinic) and, if there is no provision, will he explain why not?
Answer
Only essential clinics run on a Saturday and the patient transport arrangements are proportionate to the services offered. There are very few patients that require transport on a Saturday and it would be uneconomic to run a patient travel service akin to that run on weekdays. Patients are encouraged to make their own travel arrangements, but when this is not possible a taxi is arranged. Renal clinic patients that attend dialysis on a Saturday are part of clinic scheduling, which allows the nursing team to anticipate any challenges such as transportation and ability to attend appointments. When patients are not able to travel independently or relatives are not able to support, the nursing team/admin team will book a taxi for travel to and from the hospital without charge to the patient.