Vol. 407 No. 1
294 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in Waterford city and county currently awaiting hip replacement operations; and the average time that such people are on the waiting list before the operation is carried out.
There are 23 patients from Waterford city or county currently awaiting hip replacement operations in Kilcreene orthopaedic hospital. The average waiting period for a his replacement operation in the South Eastern Health Board region is 15 months at present.
It will be of interest to the Deputy to know that in 1990 I approved an additional £517,000 for the provision of elective orthopaedic services in the South Eastern Health Board area. A similar amount has been provided in 1991 and this additional funding has enabled the output of hip replacement operations in the region to be greatly increased. In 1990, there was a 108 per cent increase over 1989.
