Vol. 482 No. 3
223 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children when his Department will make available adequate resources to deal with the backlog of cases awaiting cardiac surgery; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting list is over 1,500 patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17958/97]
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.
Waiting list figures for each specialty, including cardiac surgery are returned to my Department by all acute hospitals at the end of each quarter. At the end of September 1997 there were 1,581 patients, adults and children, on the national cardiac surgery list.
The Deputy will wish to know that I have recently approved a sum of £1.7 million under the 1997 waiting list initiative, specifically for cardiac surgery patients. I am confident that this will impact positively on the cardiac surgery waiting list.
