asked the Minister for Health if he will explain how and over what period the situation developed whereby persons requiring ophthalmic surgery have to wait from a year to two years to obtain a hospital bed; whether such waiting periods apply to persons requiring other medical or surgical attention in hospital; if so, the treatments concerned and if steps will be taken to ensure that a like situation does not arise in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ophthalmic Surgery.
7.
This situation developed in the middle 1960's and was mainly due to the following factors:— (a) Squints. Most children in ophthalmic beds are suffering from squint. Parents are now more aware of the fact that squint can be cured and more cases are being treated surgically now than formerly. Frequently more than one operation has to be performed to fully correct the squint and children have to be readmitted for a second or third operation. (b) Adults. Most adults admitted for surgery are in the older age groups. The most common operation is for the extraction of cataract. People are now living longer and are more aware of the fact that surgery might improve their vision. Due to improved surgical techniques it is no longer necessary to wait for a cataract to "ripen". (c) There is an increasing number of long stay ophthalmic conditions e.g. retinal detachment, keratoplasty and investigation and treatment of glaucoma. Ophthalmic medical conditions are increasingly blocking beds that could be used for surgery.
As I will indicate in the reply to the next question, the waiting list (and consequently the waiting period) fell very substantially between 31st December, 1967, and 31st December last. The additional accommodation to which I referred in my reply on 22nd ultimo should ensure prompt admission for all future cases.
As regards the second part of the question the problem of such extended waiting periods does not in general arise and where there are waiting lists cases requiring urgent admission are, of course, admitted without delay.
I think the Minister would agree that it is not desirable that a waiting period of up to two years should operate in regard to medical treatment for any ailment? Will he ensure that a similar undesirable situation will not arise in relation to ophthalmic or any other form of surgery or hospitalisation?
I have been going through the list of cases awaiting admission for the whole of the country and I am glad to say that there are continually reductions in these waiting lists in practically every area. I do not know of cases of an urgent character that have to wait for any time.
Would the Minister assure the House that there is no prolonged waiting period for the operation for squint? Will he tell us exactly what the average waiting time is for this operation?
That is the subjectmatter of the next question.
8.
asked the Minister for Health the current number of persons awaiting hospital beds for ophthalmic surgery.
Information as to the waiting list is normally furnished to my Department as on the last day of the calendar year. Consequently, I am unable to give the up-to-date figure but I have taken steps to obtain it and will make it available to the Deputy if he will repeat the question in a fortnight's time.
I might add that the figure on 31st December, 1967, was 2,685. By 31st December last it had been reduced to 1,150.