Vol. 424 No. 1
79 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting list for elective surgery at the plastic and reconstruction unit at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8 as of 30 September 1992 was 884 and that only 15 beds are available in this unit for both elective and emergency patients, plus 14 beds for burns patients; if he has satisfied himself with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The allocation of beds at St. James's is a matter for the hospital authorities in the first instance. The number of beds allocated to each specialty was decided recently by the hospital board after exhaustive consultation with all the interests concerned.
I understand the following beds are available for plastic surgery: 15 designated beds in plastic surgery; 20 beds in burns unit; four children's beds shared with maxillo facial; access to pool of 12 beds in the surgical day unit. The Deputy will be pleased to learn that the number of plastic surgery admissions increased by almost 10 per cent in the first nine months of the year as compared to the same period for last year.
The waiting list figures for all specialties is constantly monitored by the hospital. The Deputy will appreciate that admission to hospital is a matter for the consultant concerned and each case is assessed to determine its medical priority and urgent cases are always accorded priority. Should a patient feel that their condition has deteriorated, they should return to their family doctor who will be in the best position to emphasise the urgency of their case to the consultant directly.
