(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the numbers on the waiting lists in Cavan and Monaghan for hip replacement operations are 106 and 98, respectively; and that the waiting list in these counties is exceeded only by Dublin and Cork; and if he will explain the reason for this and take immediate steps to have the position remedied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hip Replacement Operations.
31.
I am aware that counties Cavan and Monaghan have a higher number on the waiting list for hip replacement operations than most other counties. Steps have been taken to improve the orthopaedic services available in the North-Eastern Health Board area. A second orthopaedic theatre was opened in June 1980 at Navan Orthopaedic Unit and work on renovating the older theatre has now been completed. This theatre will be brought into use within the next few weeks. This will allow for more operations to be done and will help to alleviate the situation in these counties.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister agree that, leaving out Dublin and Cork, the waiting list for hip replacement operations in Monaghan and Cavan is about double the National average? Does that not suggest a complete neglect of the facilities in those two counties? What is the longest waiting time for such operations in those counties?
I should like to make it clear that as far as the Government are concerned attention has been given to the provision of facilities and the further extension of those facilities. This raises an interesting point. In that health board area for some reason the counties Cavan and Monaghan have the highest incidence of arthritic hips. Apparently that has always been the case. I do not have any idea what the reason is for that. It is a matter which has been commented on. In comparison with Louth and Meath, counties with a greater population, the incidence of arthritic hips is much greater in Cavan and Monaghan.
The Deputy has no problem?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Maybe the Taoiseach will exercise some of them within the next two weeks.
A new theatre has been provided and work on the refurbishing of the original theatre has just been completed. It will be brought into operation shortly and will considerably improve the position there.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that there is a waiting list of up to four years for such operations in those counties? Is it not a fact that one of the consultants offered to perform the operations in Coole hospital provided the Minister gave him the necesary facilities and back-up staff which the Minister refused to do? The Minister is aware that this type of complaint or ailment is a problem in Monaghan and Cavan and that is all the more reason why he should give it better attention to get the backlog cleared up quickly. Does the Minister realise that the patients involved are elderly and that a three or four year wait is a serious matter for them?
The longest waiting period is in Cavan which, at the time of the taking of these statistics, was four years.
(Cavan-Monaghan): That is a disgrace.
The Deputy will realise that we have established a new theatre and a second one at this stage. That is a very marked action taken by the Government.
A final supplementary.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware that when I raised this matter before, well over a year ago, the longest waiting period was four years for this operation and, according to the Minister's file now, the waiting time is still four years? Is that not a disgrace and does it not show that the Minister has done precisely nothing?
At this stage out of 106 in total, 21 are less than six months, 22 between six months and a year, and 31 are between one and two years. The Deputy can see from the action which has been taken that the position should be remedied very quickly.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.