Vol. 435 No. 3
117 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he will make more resources available to the Southern Health Board to deal with the large number of gynaecology cases awaiting procedures at Tralee General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Southern Health Board receives a block allocation from my Department for the provision of health services and it is a matter for the Board to decide how this allocation should be distributed, according to its service priorities. It is primarily a matter for the Board to determine the level of service at Tralee General Hospital in each speciality, having regard to its service priorities at the hospital and the resources available. The Southern Health Board has plans to increase the theatre time allocated to consultant gynaecologists at Tralee General Hospital, in conjunction with the development of ENT services, and this will allow for an increased throughput of gynaecology patients in the future.
