Vol. 267 No. 12
asked the Minister for Health the number of patients in each health board area who were on waiting lists for admission to hospital for treatment in each of the following departments at some recent date: (a) surgical (b) medical (c) gynaecological (d) paediatric (e) ophthalmic (f) ENT (g) orthopaedic (h) urological and (i) dermatological.
202.
asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each health board area awaiting calls to each of the following out-patients clinics: (a) surgical (b) medical (c) gynaecological (d) paediatric (e) ophthalmic (f) ENT (g) orthopaedic (h) urological and (i) dermatological.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
I recently replied to a number of questions about waiting lists for admission to hospital and about delays at hospital out-patient clinics. Those questions related to particular specialities or particular areas. I would refer the Deputy to my replies of 2nd May to Deputy Lemass about cataract operations, and of 17th July to questions by Deputy O'Connell about hospital out-patient and x-ray services, and about squint operations.
The position broadly, with which my Department is familiar from close contact with hospitals, is that we have no problem of unduly long waiting periods either as respects in-patient or out-patient general hospital care and, in that situation, the interest of my Department has been in relation to pressing problems regarding particular specialties when they arise.
For this reason the detailed breakdown of information which the Deputy seeks is not at present available and I believe the Labour involved in compiling such a detailed breakdown covering so many aspects of out-patient and in-patient services would not be justified.
