Vol. 433 No. 7
30 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the large number of people awaiting heart surgery, he will expand the capacity of the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, by sanctioning a second unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
32 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on the development of a cardiac surgery unit at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 32 together.
My Department has recently undertaken an assessment of the medium-term requirements for additional cardiac surgery. St. James's Hospital and the Mater Hospital submitted proposals for additional cardiac surgery operations.
I have decided that the annual capacity at the National Cardiac Surgery Unit at the Mater Hospital should be increased from 750 to 1,000 and I have provided £1 million in 1993 which will be met from the waiting list fund.
I am also providing for a doubling of capacity for cardiac surgery at Cork Regional Hospital from 200 to 400 patients each year. The combined increased capacity in both Dublin and Cork will mean a new national annual throughput of 1,400 cases in the public sector which represents an increase of 47 per cent on current capacity.
I am satisfied that this increased level of service will be adequate to meet the medium-term requirements for cardiac surgery in Ireland.
