Written Answers. - Heart By-Pass Surgery.
Brendan Kenneally
Question:
257
Mr. Kenneally
asked the
Minister for Health
the average waiting period for bypass surgery; the number of procedures carried out each year; the number of patients waiting since 1992, 1991 and 1990 and prior to 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2322/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
258
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Health
the cost of heart by-pass procedures for private patients attending private hospitals.
[1851/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
259
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Health
the cost per average heart by-pass procedure to the State.
[1852/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
260
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Health
the numbers currently on the waiting lists for by-pass procedures; and, if he will classify them by their public and private status.
[1853/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
261
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Health
the waiting time for patients awaiting heart by-pass procedures; and the difference between the public and private waiting time period.
[1854/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
262
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Health
the number of by-pass procedures performed for each public and private hospital for each of the years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 to date.
[1855/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
263
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Health
the number of hospitals in the Republic who perform heart by-pass procedures; and the type of hospitals performing these procedures, that is public hospitals and private hospitals.
[1856/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262 and 263 together.
Open heart surgery operations for adults, including coronary artery by-pass grafts — CABGs — are currently performed for public patients at the National Cardiac Surgery Unit in the Mater Hospital. Dublin and at Cork Regional Hospital. I understand that services are available for private patients at the Mater Private Hospital and the Blackrock Clinic. With regard to the information requested concerning the Mater Private Hospital and the Blackrock Clinic, I would like to inform the Deputy that I have no function in this matter as these hospitals are private institutions. Open heart surgery procedures which are performed by a cardio-thoracic consultant in a private capacity in a private hospital are outside of that consultant's commitment under the common contract. However, it is understood that the private hospitals carry out approximately 700 open heart operations per annum.
The cost of a CABG procedure is influenced by the complexity of the case — whether or not a catheter or valve is required — and individual procedures are not costed on a routine basis. In general, however, the average CABG costs approximately £8,500.
The number of coronary artery by-pass (CABG) procedures performed in the public hospital sector is set out in the following table:
|
Year
|
Procedures
|
|
1990
|
653
|
|
1991
|
789
|
|
1992
|
805
|
|
1993
|
819
|
|
1994
|
663
|
|
(up to 30.9.1994)
|
|
I should point out that, in addition to the coronary artery by-pass graft procedures, the two hospitals in the public sector also perform other open heart procedures.
The number of patients currently on the waiting list for all open heart surgery in these two hospitals is 1,657. Deputies will appreciate that the scheduling of surgery is a matter for the clinical judgement of the consultant concerned, is based solely on the patient's condition and not on the length of time on the waiting list. Emergency cases are given priority. Admission for open heart surgery in the public hospital service is determined having regard to the medical condition of patients and not on the basis of whether they are classified as public or private patients. The further information requested by Deputy Kenneally in relation to patients waiting since 1992, 1991, 1990 and prior to 1990 is not readily available. I will forward it directly to him as soon as possible.
Since coming into office I have been concerned to ensure the expansion of existing facilities for cardiac surgery in the public hospital sector. In 1993, I allocated a sum of £1 million from the waiting list fund to enable the necessary facilities to be put in place at the National Cardiac Surgery Unit, Mater Hospital to increase the annual throughput of open heart surgery at the hospital from 750 to 1,000 — an increase of 33 per cent. In addition, in 1993 and 1994, I have provided capital funds which will facilitate the doubling of cardiac surgery at Cork Regional Hospital from 200 to 400 patients each year.
I have allocated in excess of £2 million in 1994 to the Mater Hospital for cardiac surgery and related developments. The development, which was completed recently, includes additional cardiac maintenance beds, intensive care facilities and high dependency facilities which are required to support the cardiac surgery programme. These new facilities at the hospital have now become operational and the additional cardiac surgery activity has commenced.
The developments at the Mater Hospital, together with the developments in progress for cardiac surgery at Cork Regional Hospital will have the effect of increasing the number of cardiac surgery operations performed on an annual basis in the public hospital sector by 47 per cent from 950 to 1,400.
