Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cardiac Services.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

265 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of infants awaiting cardiac surgery at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12; the ages of these children; the number on this date in 1998; the number who have died before cardiac surgery; the number who have died shortly after cardiac surgery; the number referred to the United Kingdom for cardiac surgery in each of the years 1997 and 1998; and the number proposed to be referred to the United Kingdom in 1999. [4309/99]

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

266 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 18 November 1998, a design team has been appointed for the provision of additional cardiac theatres and associate facilities; if not, when it will be appointed; when it will complete its work; and when the theatres will be available to carry out cardiac surgery. [4310/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.

As at 31 December 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of public patients awaiting cardiac surgery at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, was 73. This compares with a figure of 97 who were awaiting cardiac surgery at the 31 December 1997 and represents a reduction of almost 25 per cent on that year.

The ages of children awaiting cardiac surgery ranges from under one year to 16 years of age. One of the patients who was on the cardiac surgery waiting list in 1998 died before surgery was performed while 22 patients who had surgery performed up to and including 1998 died in 1998.

As part of the cardiac waiting list initiative there were 18 patients transferred for surgery in 1997 to the United Kingdom while a further 30 patients were transferred in 1998. The purchase of additional cardiac procedures from the United Kingdom will continue in 1999 with an expected further 30 patients to be transferred.

With regard to theatre development and the hospital, which will cost in the region of £20 million, I am pleased to report that the procedures for the appointment of the design team for the development is at a very advanced stage. I confidently expect to be in a position to give approval for the appointment of the design team within a few weeks.

The timing of the commencement and completion of planning and construction for the development will depend on several variable factors which are difficult to assess accurately in advance and it is not possible for me, therefore to give a precise timetable for the project at this time.