Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hip Replacement Operation.

Jim Higgins

Question:

412 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in providing a hip replacement operation for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [177/94]

The patient concerned is on the in-patient waiting list for surgery at Merlin Park Hospital but it is not possible to give an admission date at this stage.

The Deputy will appreciate that the scheduling of hospital admission is a matter for the consultant concerned and each patient is assessed to determine medical priority. Should the patient feel that his condition has deteriorated 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 that under the Waiting List Initiative 1994 a total of £850,000 was allocated to the Western Health Board for the provision of 1,222 additional procedures, including 109 orthopaedic procedures. This should help to reduce the overall waiting time for patients in the specialties targeted.

In addition, development funds of £400,000 were provided to the board this year for the expansion of orthopaedic services at Merlin Park Regional Hospital. As a result, approval has issued to the Western Health Board to recruit a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and a consultant anaesthetist together with necessary support staff.

Top
Share