Vol. 413 No. 7
52 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the ear, nose and throat waiting list in the Western Health Board area goes back to 1988 and that a number of those on the list face imminent deafness and blindness because of failure to deal with their complaints.
I do not accept that people on waiting lists in the Western Health Board area are faced with imminent deafness and blindness because of failure to deal with their complaints.
The admission of an individual patient to hospital is a matter for the hospital authority and the consultant in charge of the case. Waiting lists are kept under regular review and priority is given to urgent cases. Should any patient feel that their condition has deteriorated they should contact their general practitioner who will be in the best position to stress the urgency of the case to the consultant concerned.
