§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the inquiry into the conduct of Dr. Hayes, dispensary doctor at Tralee, concerning his attendance on Charles Everett, deceased, promised on the 19th June last, has since been held; and, if so, with what result?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Local Government Board have investigated the matter, and obtained an explanation from the medical officer concerned, from which it appears that the ticket in question was only delivered at his house after 6 o'clock on the evening of the 22nd May. Not being marked "urgent," he did not immediately attend to it, as he had another call to make in the country besides cases in the town, which occupied 496 him until past 10 o'clock that night. Having regard to these facts, and considering that the medical officer had no intimation whatever as to the case being urgent, the Board do not think that he is to be blamed for deciding to postpone the visit till next morning.
§ MR. E. HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Local Government Board will not give an instruction that these "urgent tickets" are filled up by the secretary? I believe the medical officers do not disregard the tickets when signed in that way.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLAre these urgent tickets not of a different colour?
§ MR. E. HARRINGTONThey are.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have made some recent modification, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman below the Gangway will put a question on the Paper.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThe hon. Member says that the urgent tickets are, in fact, of a different colour to those presented to the doctor.
§ MR. E. HARRINGTONThe urgent tickets are red; but these, if distributed by the clerk, become an annoyance to the doctor. They should be given by the secretary.