asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on a recent media report (details supplied) which stated that hospital cutbacks and bed closures have led to emergency cases taking nearly all of the available beds in some of the major hospitals; if he will make a further statement on the long delays being experienced in having cardiac investigations carried out, such delays which have, on occasion, led to such patients having heart attacks and dying while waiting for treatment, and if he will carry out a full inquiry into these very serious allegations.
Written Answers. - Hospital Cutbacks.
100.
I accept that because of the unpredictable nature of emergency services some hospitals experience difficulties in the provision of elective services from time to time. It is a matter for each hospital to ensure that they balance and adjust the resources available to provide an appropriate level of elective and emergency services.
The information available to my Department does not indicate that there are excessive delays in having cardiac investigations carried out. There is a regular review of waiting lists by the consultants involved. It is a matter for each consultant to assess each case and to determine the priority attached to each patient.