asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, has not had surgery and dental treatment required by his condition which he was led to believe would be done by the time he reached 18/19 and who is now 23 years of age, the reason he has been told it is not possible for the operation to be done as he had been told that if he was in a position to pay, the operation could be arranged immediately.
Written Answers. - Medical Treatment.
103.
I have had inquiries made of the hospital authorities concerned and I understand that the person referred to has had corrective surgery carried out and is on the waiting list for a secondary correction which is of a non-urgent nature. The criterion used in selecting patients for an operation is medical need and not ability to pay. The waiting list is assessed regularly by the consultants involved who take into consideration each patient's condition. The person in question will have his operation at the earliest possible date.