asked the Minister for Health whether any solution has yet been found towards reducing the Kerry County Council's waiting list from a 13-month waiting period for admission to the County Hospital, Tralee, or to extern hospitals for persons requiring surgical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Hospital Waiting List.
85.
I am informed that the position regarding surgical patients awaiting admission to the County Hospital, Tralee, is that 127 such patients were on the waiting list at the 1st November. The longest waiting time for any of these patients was from April of this year. This represents a substantial improvement in the position as compared with that obtaining when I answered a previous question from the Deputy in June last.
The Kerry Health Authority has not readily available information about surgical patients awaiting admission to extern hospitals. I have asked them to obtain this information and when I receive it I will send it to the Deputy.