asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a patient awaiting (a) eye surgery and (b) hip surgery at a Dublin hospital; and the steps that are being taken to shorten the waiting time.
Written Answers. - Eye and Hip Surgery Patients.
70.
Three hospitals in Dublin carry out eye surgery and the waiting period varies from two or three weeks to five or six months depending on the hospital to which the patient is referred and the type of eye surgery involved. Urgent cases are usually treated without delay.
Steps which will have the effect of shortening the waiting time are being taken. Within the past two years a new 18-bed ophthalmic unit has been opened at Sligo General Hospital and an extended and improved ophthalmic unit was provided at Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford. These units help to relieve the pressure on the Dublin hospitals. The position should be improved further when a new additional post of ophthalmic surgeon at Ardkeen Hospital is filled.
Recently my Department conducted a survey of ophthalmic patients in eight different hospitals, including the three Dublin hospitals, covering a period of two months. The results of this survey are being examined at present. It is hoped that the results will be useful in showing whether further additional facilities are needed.
Hip surgery is carried out at four public hospitals in Dublin and the waiting period varies depending on the hospital and surgeon to whom the patient is referred. Most patients are operated on within 12 months but in some cases the waiting period can be up to two or three years.
The North Eastern Health Board proposes to build a second orthopaedic theatre at Navan Orthopaedic Unit, and the North-Western Health Board are considering the establishment of an orthopaedic unit in their area. These developments should help to relieve the pressure on the Dublin orthopaedic units.
Comhairle na nOspidéal are at present studying the orthopaedic services generally and when their views are known I will be in a better position to decide what further action should be taken to meet the increasing demand for hip surgery.