Vol. 506 No. 2
236 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the efforts, if any, he is making to speed up hospital appointments having regard to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 who is waiting two and a half years for an angiogram in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14921/99]
As the determination of in-patient appointments is a matter for the hospital authorities in the first instance, based on a clinical assessment of need, I have asked the chief executive officer of Beaumont Hospital to investigate the position regarding this patient. Given the particular circumstances of this case, I have requested that he reply to the Deputy directly, as a matter of urgency.
With regard to the specific issue of the provision of cardiology services at Beaumont Hospital, I would like to point out that in 1998 following submissions made to my Department by the hospital, I was pleased to be able to approve a capital grant of £750,000 in respect of the development of an interventional cardiology suite. Also, in 1997 and 1998, additional funding was made available to Beaumont Hospital under the cardiac waiting list initiative for the provision of additional cardiology procedures.
I would expect that the hospital would be in a position to provide a considerably enhanced cardiology service when this new facility is operational and that it should have a positive effect on waiting times for cardiology patients.
