asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of each specialist service, the average waiting time a patient must undergo prior to receiving out-patient treatment in each of the counties in the Western Health Board area.
308.
Written Answers. - Out-patient Treatment.
307.
asked the Minister for Health the number of out-patients on the waiting list for clinics in Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon; and if this information will be supplied by the Western Health Board to Roscommon local health committee.
309.
asked the Minister for Health the number of patients in each specialty on the waiting list for hospital out-patient clinics in Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon; and the number on the waiting list at the same time last year.
It is proposed, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 307 to 309, inclusive, together.
Number of patients currently on waiting list for out-patient clinics and average waiting time.
|
Specialist Service |
Galway |
Mayo |
Roscommon |
|
Medicine |
71 |
155 |
37 |
|
3 months |
5 months |
3 months |
|
|
Surgery |
791 |
460 |
19 |
|
12 months |
12 months |
1 month |
|
|
Dermatology |
40 |
40 |
No waiting List |
|
1 month |
3 months |
— |
|
|
Nephrology |
120 |
3 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
2 months |
1 week |
— |
|
|
Urology |
194 |
82 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
5 months |
12 months |
— |
|
|
Rheumatology |
151 |
41 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
12 months |
15 months |
— |
|
|
Paediatric |
55 |
246 |
77 |
|
2.5 months |
24 months |
4 months |
|
|
ENT |
83 |
825 |
No waiting list |
|
6 weeks |
31 months |
— |
|
|
Ante-Natal |
100 |
20 |
No waiting list |
|
2 weeks |
2 weeks |
— |
|
|
Gynaecology |
12 |
21 |
15 |
|
2 weeks |
2 weeks |
3 months |
|
|
Orthopaedics |
821 |
1,646 |
638 |
|
12 months |
30 months |
20 months |
|
|
Thoracic |
131 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
4 weeks |
— |
— |
|
|
Ophthalmology |
346 |
Not available |
1,152 |
|
13 months |
Not available |
Children 3 months Adults 20 months |
|
|
Cardiology |
148 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
3 months |
— |
— |
|
|
Neurology |
98 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
10 months |
— |
— |
|
|
Respiratory |
317 |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
Referred to Galway Clinics |
|
2 months |
— |
— |
Urgent cases do not have to wait for the periods specified above but are dealt with as soon as possible depending on the degree of urgency. The following developments will improve the situation in the specialties referred to:—
Paediatrics: The Western Health Board, after a number of unsuccessful competitions, have recently appointed a paediatrician for Castlebar General Hospital who will take up duty on 1 July 1978.
ENT: An additional ENT surgeon has recently been appointed to Galway Regional Hospital and as from 1 February 1978 four additional out-patient clinics per month are being provided at Castlebar General Hospital.
Orthopaedics: At present orthopaedic surgeons from Merlin Park Hospital, Galway provide out-patient clinics in the North-Western Health Board area. The North Western Health Board is in process of recruiting two orthopaedic surgeons to provide services in the board's area. These appointments will enable the orthopaedic surgeons employed by the Western Health Board to concentrate on services for the board's area.
The provision of information to Roscommon local health committee would be a matter for the Western Health Board.
The information in respect of last year is not yet available but I will forward it to Deputy Doherty as soon as possible. I will also forward the figures for ophthalmology in respect of County Mayo to the Deputies shortly.