Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 1

Written Answers. - Operation Delay.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

76 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who has been waiting for a sinus operation will not be operated on until March of 1995 in spite of his pain; if he will have arrangements made to expedite this operation; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in spite of representations made to the hospital in October 1994, no response has been received from this hospital in spite of repeated requests by telephone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3213/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The admission of patients to hospital is a matter for the consultant concerned and the length of time a patient must wait is determined on the basis of clinical need. Urgent cases are always given priority. I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy has been given an admission date of 1 March 1995.

I am informed that the failure to respond to representations made to the hospital in question about this case was an administrative oversight which the hospital greatly regrets. In general, where a patient feels that his condition has deteriorated he should return to his general practitioner who would be in the best position to stress the urgency of his case directly to the consultant at the hospital.