Vol. 443 No. 3
73 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health the length of time that children have to wait for an appointment to see an ear, nose and throat surgeon in the children's hospitals in Dublin; the length of time for children with similar conditions who attend consultants privately; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
105 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of ear, nose and throat beds currently available; whether surgical facilities are sufficient to meet current demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 105 together.
The total number of ear, nose and throat beds available in publicly funded acute hospitals at 31 December 1993 was 245.
I am satisfied that the number of beds available for this specialty is sufficient to meet the needs of the population and that ENT facilities generally are sufficient to maintain the high level of throughput at present achieved within our hospital service.
In relation to routine out-patient appointments for children to see ear, nose and throat surgeons in children's hospitals in Dublin, the position is that waiting times can very from approximately four months to 11 months. The Deputy will appreciate that the scheduling of appointments is a matter for the consultant in the first instance. However, I am informed by all the hospitals concerned that urgent cases are always accorded priority.
My Department does not collect information in relation to waiting times for children attending consultants privately.
The Deputy will be aware that as part of the Government's £20 million Waiting List Initiative in 1993 a sum of £3.32 million was specifically allocated in respect of ENT procedures. Overall, an additional 5,120 ENT procedures were carried out countrywide. This has resulted in a very significant reduction in the overall numbers of patients on ENT waiting lists.
