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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 8

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Neurosurgery Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

42 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the acute difficulties in gaining treatment at Dublin's neurosurgery services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Admission to the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital depends on the urgency of the patient's condition. The consultant neurosurgeons regularly review their waiting lists and admit patients based on their medical condition and the need for urgent or non-urgent treatment. Occasionally, elective admissions to the neurosurgical centre are delayed due to a high level of emergency admissions, which I am sure the Deputy will realise must take precedence.

Beaumont Hospital is proceeding to fill the complement of six consultant neurosurgeon posts as recommended by Comhairle na nOspidéal. Beaumont Hospital expects that the two additional consultant neurosurgeons, one to replace a post formerly located at St. Vincent's Hospital and the other to fill the vacant post with a special interest in paediatric neurosurgery, will take up duty within the next month. This will have the effect of further reducing waiting times for neurosurgical patients. The waiting list for nuero-surgical treatment at the moment is 709.

Would the Minister not agree that while some progress is now being made, when Comhairle na nOspidéal reported on this they indicated a need for 50 extra beds in the Dublin area and 16 extra consultants, not the six who are now being appointed? Would the Minister not agree that it is unacceptable that in south Dublin for a population of 500,000 there is only one consultant neurosurgeon available? Will the Minister be bringing forward proposals to restore public confidence in this area, after a very bruising experience in the courts in recent times which was damaging to public confidence?

I agree it was damaging to public confidence. I hope it is behind them now, that there will be no further inquiries and that the Department will get on with the work of dealing with this long waiting list. The Deputy referred to one neurosurgeon for south Dublin, but there is no neurosurgeon for south Dublin. The St. Vincent's Hospital neurosurgeon had been transferred to the National Neurosurgical Centre.

We will manage to dispose of the remaining question. I am calling Question No. 43 in the name of Deputy Richard Bruton.

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