asked the Minister for Health if he will state, in view of the fact that there are 224 patients waiting for hip-replacement surgery at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Cork, and 36 of these have been on the waiting list for a period in excess of one year, the steps he proposes to take now to provide treatment for these patients within a reasonable time.
Written Answers. - Hip Replacement Waiting List.
811.
As the Deputy is probably aware, the success of joint operations over the past few years has resulted in an ever-increasing demand throughout the country for this treatment.
In relation to the position at St. Marys Orthopaedic Hospital, Cork, the provision of a new operating theatre suite containing four theatres has been approved and preliminary planning has been carried out. However, because of the financial situation it has not been possible to allow the planning of the scheme to proceed further. I am keeping the scheme under consideration for funding in the light of the availability of capital resources.
At present there is no in-patient orthopaedic service provided at Tralee General Hospital. When the new general hospital at Tralee opens it will include a 45-bed orthopaedic unit with the necessary back up facilities, and specialist staff.
I consider that the completion of the schemes I have mentioned will go a long way towards relieving the situation in relation to patients in the Southern Health Board area seeking hip-replacement operations.