Vol. 433 No. 1
255 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health the numbers on waiting lists for orthopaedic, orthodontic, hip replacement and tonsillectomy treatment in County Westmeath; and the plans, if any, he has to reduce the waiting time for these treatments.
The information, in the form requested by the Deputy is not available. I am advised by the Midland Health Board that there are currently 202 patients awaiting orthopaedic procedures in the Midland Health Board area, of which 58 are awaiting hip replacement operations. Of these, 28 patients reside in County Westmeath. Within the health board area, 391 patients are awaiting tonsillectomy procedures, of which 284 are children.
The waiting lists for orthodontic treatment are also maintained by the health board on a regional basis. A total of 754 children are on the waiting lists for the entire health board region. The health board has made considerable improvements in its orthodontic services over the past few years and I have recently allocated additional funds to the board which will enable it to further develop these services in the current year.
As I have already informed the Deputy, I have recently given approval to proceed with the construction of two additional operating theatres at Tullamore General Hospital, one of ENT and one for general surgery. This will bring the number of theatres to four. The total cost of this project will be approximately £1 million. It is expected that work will commence later this year and the project should be completed by late 1994.
My Department has also recently given approval to the appointment of a third consultant orthopaedic surgeon and a second ENT surgeon for the Tullamore General Hospital. The appointment of the consultants and the provision of the additional operating theatres will considerably improve both orthopaedic and ENT services in the Midland Health Board area.
