Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 7

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Dan Neville

Question:

194 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the serious situation regarding the waiting list for cardiac surgery at St. James' Hospital, Dublin 8, in view of the comment by a senior executive (details supplied) that it is the worst that she can remember and that the likelihood of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick having surgery carried out in the near future is very slim and that, until the Minister makes a decision about increasing facilities for cardiac surgery, this situation is unlikely to change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The provision of additional cardiac surgery facilities is a matter of national importance and one which will require significant capital and revenue investment over the next few years. The question of the provision of cardiac care services overall is under review at the moment. An announcement will be made on the location of additional cardiac care services when this review is complete.

The Deputy will also wish to know that I have recently approved a sum of £1.6 million under the 1997 waiting list initiative, specifically for cardiac surgery patients, £230,000 of which has been allocated to St. James's Hospital. This will result in a reduction of 80 patients from the hospital's cardiac surgery waiting list and I am confident that it will also impact positively on waiting times for cardiac surgery.