asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the extra staff and other facilities necessary to deal with the large waiting list requiring hip replacement operations in the Southern Health Board region.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hip Replacement Operations.
17.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 21st May to Deputy Lemass regarding the question of waiting lists for joint replacement operations generally. Much of the heavy waiting lists is due, as I then indicated, to dramatic recent improvements in technique which in turn led to a build-up of cases. Once this backlog is dealt with a reduction in waiting list numbers could reasonably be expected.
Arrangements are being made by my Department for the carrying out of a special national survey regarding the workload in regard to joint replacements, and any necessary remedial steps can be considered in the light of its findings.
In so far as the Southern Health Board area is concerned I have no proposals before me for extra facilities at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Gurranebraher, where the joint replacement work is carried out for the area. However, a new plaster theatre was provided for this hospital in 1973. A five-bed recovery room was provided in 1974. A link corridor between the theatre and another block was also recently provided. In regard to extra staff for St. Mary's Hospital, a third surgeon was appointed in 1972 and also extra nursing staff. A proposal to appoint an additional house officer has recently been received and is being considered.
Is the Minister aware that some health boards have not sufficient theatre facilities to do those operations?
I am so aware.
Could the Minister inform me of the actual number on the waiting list in the Southern Health Board region? Does he know that, in spite of the improvements he has mentioned, the list increases daily?
I have the list of waiting periods here. I will not say it is too long a list but I can furnish it to the Deputy.
Might I have the number on the waiting list at present?
For waiting periods of over two years, three females, two males; over one year, six females, 19 males; from nine to 12 months six females and 14 males; six to nine months 13 females and eight males; from three to six months, nine females and nine males; from one month to three months 15 females and 17 males, making a total of 52 females and 69 males. I should explain, in respect of those people waiting two years, it is because they are not regarded as being ready yet for operation because of various other illnesses.
Could the Minister say whether that includes the whole area or Cork city area only?
Yes, I think this hospital is the only orthopaedic one in that area. I am not quite certain but I think it does include Cork.
Is it not suitable that these operations be carried out in some other hospital, for example in St. Catherine's in Tralee?
I think every Deputy in the House will appreciate that there is, so to speak, a rush for this type of operation because of new methods and techniques which have been proved to be very successful. Formerly there was not such a rush because, unfortunately, people believed they had to live with the ailment for the rest of their lives, or have an inferior type operation.
Why not cater for the rush?
We are doing the best we can in the establishment of theatres and the appointment of surgeons.