Liz O'Donnell
Question:127 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the longest period for which any person has been waiting for open heart surgery.
Written Answers. - Open Heart Surgery.
The total waiting list for open heart surgery is 1,270 as at 1 March, 1993. The number of open heart operations carried out each year is in excess of 1,000. The admission of a patient to hospital for open heart surgery is a clinical decision taken by the consultant concerned and is solely based on the patients condition and not on the length of time on the waiting list. Emergency cases are given priority. I understand that there is one patient on the open heart surgery waiting list since 1980.