Vol. 454 No. 6
106 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for a knee operation to Cappagh Hospital, Dublin, in view of the fact that this person is in great discomfort and was informed that this operation would take place in early 1995. [11330/95]
Limerick East): St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh has indicated that the patient in question is due to be called for admission to the hospital's assessment unit on 3 July 1995. In this unit a patient's fitness for surgery is determined and generally takes place two to three weeks before the operation is scheduled.
The Deputy will appreciate that the admission of a patient to hospital is a matter for the consultant concerned and each patient is assessed to determine his or her medical priority. Should the patient feel concerned that her condition has deteriorated, she should return to her medical practitioner who is in the best position to emphasise the urgency of her case directly to the consultant.
The Deputy may be aware that, under the 1994 Waiting List Initiative, a total of £500,000 was allocated to St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh for the provision of 270 additional orthopaedic procedures and these targets were achieved. This should reduce the overall waiting time for patients in this speciality.
