asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of much delay in dealing with cases of chest surgery under the Cork Health Authority; and if he will give the reasons for such delay, and particulars of any steps he intends to take to deal with the present unsatisfactory situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Chest Surgery Delays.
51.
Mr. Barrett
Mr. O'Malley
I have been informed, by the Cork Health Authority, that there has been no delay in dealing with patients needing urgent chest surgery in St. Stephen's Hospital, Sarsfields-court. Because of shortage of surgical staff, there have been delays of a week or two in cases requiring less urgent surgical treatment.
There are 50 cardiac cases awaiting investigation, but I am informed that none of these is regarded as urgent from the medical point of view, and that the delay, in this instance, is due in part to the limitation imposed by radiation hazards on the number of cases which can be investigated each week, and in part to pressure on available beds in the thoracic surgical unit.
Despite persistent efforts by the health authority, there has been great difficulty in recent years in securing sufficient junior surgical staff and nurses for St. Stephen's Hospital. This is one of the reasons which has now led to a decision to transfer the thoracic surgical unit to St. Finbarr's Hospital, where it will be associated with the general surgical service there. This transfer will take place as soon as some necessary structural alterations, to which I have given my approval, have been made in St. Finbarr's. The health authority considers that this arrangement should overcome many of the present difficulties, and make it possible to provide a more satisfactory service than at present.