Vol. 470 No. 4
92 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will have arrangements made to investigate the delay in having a public patient (details supplied) in County Cork admitted to a hospital in Cork for treatment; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this patient has been on the waiting list for a considerable period. [19047/96]
Limerick East): I have had inquiries made regarding this matter and I have been advised that this patient has been assessed by the consultant surgeon and is on the waiting list for treatment at the Mercy Hospital, Cork. However, if this patient's general practitioner feels that his condition has deteriorated or that he needs a more urgent admission date, he should contact the hospital directly for a further assessment.
In 1996 I approved an allocation of £78,000 to the Mercy Hospital, under the waiting list initiative, for the provision of an additional 100 vascular surgery-varicose vein procedures.
93 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will have arrangements made to investigate the delay in having a person (details supplied) in County Cork in her 80's admitted to hospital for treatment for eye cataracts; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that she is almost immobile due to her condition; if his attention has further been drawn to the delay in having public patients for such eye treatment admitted to Cork University Hospital. [19048/96]
Limerick East): I have had inquiries made regarding this matter and I have been advised that this patient has been assessed by the consultant ophthalmologist at Cork University Hospital, who is of the opinion that a cataract operation is not an appropriate form of treatment in this case. However, if this patient's general practitioner wishes to write to the consultant directly, seeking further information, he would be happy to correspond with him.
In 1996 I approved an allocation of £59,400 to Cork University Hospital, under the waiting list initiative, for the provision of an additional 60 cataract procedures. Recently, I have made a further allocation to the Southern Health Board in respect of the waiting list initiative and it is expected that some of these funds will be directed towards ophthalmic procedures.
