Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Noel Ahern

Question:

218 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the waiting lists for prostate operations in the Mater Hospital; the waiting periods involved in this regard; the numbers of operations carried out in the most recent year for which details are available; the way in which this compares with previous years; and if he will have arrangements made to have a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 admitted who is on the waiting list for two years. [22974/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

This information is not routinely collected by my Department. However, I have had inquiries made of the hospital authorities regarding this matter and I have been advised that the average waiting time on the waiting list for prostrate operations at the hospital is up to one year. I understand that a total of 168 prostrate operations were carried out at the hospital during the first six months of 1997.

With regard to the patient referred to by the Deputy, I understand that his next appointment is scheduled for 21 January 1998, subject to bed availability at that time I should stress that the scheduling of admission of individual patients to hospital is a matter for the consultant concerned and is determined solely on the basis of medical priority. Should this patient feel that his condition has deteriorated, he should return to his general practitioner, who would be in the best position to emphasise the urgency of his case to the consultant directly.