Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

44 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will make the necessary funding available to a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork to carry out further hip replacement operations in 1996; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no further hip replacement operations will be carried out for public patients until 1997; and if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that in view of the 18 month waiting list for such patients, a further period of unnecessary prolonged agony and pain is being imposed on these patients. [17267/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The Deputy will wish to know that in 1996 my Department has provided funding to the Southern Health Board, under the Waiting List Initiative, to carry out an additional 45 hip procedures at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Gurrnabraher, Cork. This is in addition to the board's baseline activity target of 299 procedures.

The Southern Health Board has confirmed that there has been no cessation of hip procedures at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Gurrnabraher, Cork and the board is confident that its 1996 targets for hip operations will be achieved.