Vol. 502 No. 3
348 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children awaiting heart surgery; the average number who are operated on each week in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12; the number of children who travelled to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, for heart operations in each of the past three years; the budget provided for these purposes in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7933/99]
349 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in providing approved cardiac surgery facilities in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12; the timescale for the completion of this work; the expected capacity of the new facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7934/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
As at 31 December 1998 the latest date for which figures are available, the number of public patients awaiting over three months for cardiac surgery at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin was 73.
Following discussions in 1997 between Our Lady's hospital and officials from my Department it was considered that a range of measures should be implemented to alleviate pressure on cardiac surgery services at the hospital and resources for the implementation of these measures were provided by my Department under the cardiac waiting list initiative. One of the measures agreed was that, as an interim measure, the hospital should enter negotiations with suitable UK facilities for the purchase of additional cardiac surgery procedures. Under this initiative 18 children were referred to the UK in 1997, of these 18, ten were referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. In 1998, 30 children were referred to the UK and of these 30, 21 were referred to Great Ormond Street. The purchase of additional cardiac procedures from the UK will continue in 1999 and it is expected that a further 30 patients will be transferred.
Our Lady's hospital currently perform an average of five cardiothoracic procedures a week. However, as the Deputy may be aware I have a recently granted approval to the hospital to appoint a design team for the theatre development at the hospital. When complete the new theatre development will provide five new operating theatres complete with ancillary accommodation, a day surgery area and a central sterile supplies department. The existing theatre facilities will be upgraded to provide a further two theatre suites. It is expected that when these theatres are fully commissioned Our Lady's hospital will be in a position to perform an additional 100 paediatric cardiac procedures which is a 40 per cent increase on existing capacity.
The estimated completion date for the development is 2002. However, the timing of the completion of planning and tendering and the commencement and completion of construction for the development will depend on several variable factors which are difficult to assess accurately in advance and it is not possible, therefore to give a precise timetable for this project.
In addition, the Deputy may wish to note, that I recently approved the appointment of an additional consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and a consultant cardiologist to the hospital and I understand that the process of appointing suitable persons to these posts is under way.
