Jim Higgins
Question:129 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the provision of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting List.
The patient concerned is on the out-patient waiting list for assessment at University College Hospital, Galway, but it is not possible to give an appointment date at this stage. As the Deputy will appreciate, the scheduling of appointments and admission is a matter for the consultant concerned and urgent cases are always accorded priority. Should the patient feel concerned about this condition he should return to his general practitioner who is in the best position to emphasise the urgency of his case directly to the consultant.
The Deputy will be aware of the £20 million Major Action Programme which I recently launched in relation to hospital in-patient waiting lists which was specifically targeted at those areas of hospital treatment where long waiting times are causing the greatest hardship. The Western Health Board has been allocated £2,192,600 from the Waiting List Fund. This will enable the board to carry out an additional 1,884 procedures this year of which 250 will be cataract operations. This should impact significantly on the average waiting times in these areas.
Michael Finucane
Question:130 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be called for a knee operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand from the Mid-Western Health Board that the person referred to is on the waiting list and will be called shortly.