Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
144
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health
if he will outline the progress in the past 12 months on the reduction of waiting lists for, (a) major heart surgery, (b) dental/orthodontic treatment for under 16's and (c) cataract and other eye operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
First of all I should explain that the admission of a patient to hospital for surgery is a clinical decision for the consultant in charge of the case. Waiting lists are kept under review and priority is given to urgent cases.
Heart surgery for public patients is performed in three locations:— The National Cardiac Unit, Mater Hospital, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin and Cork Regional Hospital.
Significant additional resources have been allocated to cardiac surgery over the last two years in spite of severe financial restrictions. I have allocated funds for a second post of cardiac surgeon for Cork Regional Hospital. On a full-year basis, the second appointment will double the number of cardiac operations performed. I have also given approval to the planning of a cardio-thoracic theatre at that hospital. In Dublin, the Mater and St. James's Hospitals were invited to submit proposals to increase the number of cardiac operations from 750 to 1,000 per annum. An option appraisal of the two proposals is currently underway in my Department.
Furthermore, as an immediate step, an additional sum of £120,000 has been allocated for the provision of 40 extra open heart operations at the Mater Hospital in the current year.
With regard to orthodontic treatment, special allocations have been made available to health boards for the development of orthodontic services. £300,000 was provided at the end of 1989 and £567,000 and £1 million was provided in 1990 and 1991 respectively. The health boards 1992 allocations include a repeat of the special provision for the continuing improvement of orthodontic services.
Significant improvements have been made in the level of services as a result of the additional money made available by the Government. Twelve thousand children were receiving specialist orthodontic treatment and a further four thousand were being treated at primary care level by trained dentists at the end of 1991.
Consultant Orthodontists have now been appointed to the Mid-Western, North-Western and the Southern Health Boards and appointments are expected in the Eastern, South-Eastern and Western Health Boards in the next few months. Where a health board has been unable to recruit a Consultant Orthodontist it makes alternative arrangements with private orthodontist/specialists to provide the necessary services. The consultants will, in addition to their own direct clinical involvement, have a major role to play in training staff which will considerably enhance the orthodontic services provided by health boards.
As far as cataract and other ophthalmic surgery is concerned, my Department is at present collating the information collected recently from hospitals in regard to their present waiting lists and I will be in touch with the Deputy in the matter in due course.
