asked the Minister for Health the number of male and female patients on the waiting list for orthopaedic treatment including operations at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton, Country Leitrim; if he is aware that the male unit it fully equipped since February last but has not been staffed, the reason for this, and when it will be staffed.
Written Answers. - County Leitrim Hospital Staffing.
266.
There are 227 male and 101 female patients at present on the waiting list for orthopaedic treatment including operations at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton. I have approved of the necessary staff for the 28-bed orthopaedic unit at the hospital. The filling of the posts is a matter for the North Western Health Board.
Twenty orthopaedic beds are already in use for male and female patients, including children, but due to difficulties in recruiting sufficient nurses for the hospital the health board have been unable to bring the other eight orthopaedic beds, which are intended for male patients, into use. The board are continuing their efforts to obtain more nursing staff and hope they will be in a position to admit patients to these beds shortly.