asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the number of children waiting for tonsillitis surgery in Temple Street Hospital, Dublin; the length of time it would take for a child joining the list to be reached; and whether action is necessary to clear waiting lists in view of the inability to take an urgent case (details supplied) until two years hence.
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
105.
In October of last year there were 787 patients on the ear, nose and throat waiting list at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street. This figure includes both urgent and non-urgent cases. In 1988 the hospital treated 1,044 ENT, cases and it is currently endeavouring to reduce the ENT waiting list by designating a specific number of beds for ENT use.
With regard to the specific case referred to by the Deputy, I would like to explain that the admission of a patient to hospital is a matter for the consultant and hospital authority concerned. I would suggest to the Deputy that the patient's general practitioner would be in the best position to advise on the urgency of the case to the consultant concerned.