asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report to the effect that 50,000 Irish people need hip operations and the statement that many more may require it; whether this is the true position; and if there will be sufficient beds in this country to accommodate these patients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hip Operations.
39.
I have seen the report referred to, which is the opinion of an individual orthopaedic surgeon. My Department are not aware of any statistical evidence to support this estimate of 50,000 people needing hip replacement operations. Recent enquiries made by my Department indicate that the total waiting list for all classes of joint replacement operations, including hip replacement is approximately 1,000.
Much of this waiting list is due, I am advised, to the dramatic recent improvement in technique of joint replacement which offers the capability of relief for many cases which would not have benefited from earlier techniques. Once this backlog of these has been dealt with, the annual recurring demand should settle at a lower figure.
I am, however, keeping this position under review and will consider if further steps may be needed to cope with the situation. It does not appear that the major need at present is for extra beds.
Even if the original estimate was very much exaggerated, would the Minister not consider a waiting list of 1,000 to be excessive?
It appears excessive but I am informed that there are 1,400 beds for such cases. As I have said there is a rush for this sort of operation. I expect that many Deputies have been approached by their constituents with a view to getting beds for them in the various hospitals so that they could undergo this operation. The reason why so many people have applied for the operation is that a new technique is being employed. It is proposed to advertise for the type of consultant involved in the hope that the employing of more consultants will result in the backlog being reduced. I expect that when the backlog has been cleared, demand will even off.