Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

155 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 25 May 1999, the steps, if any, he is taking to address the long waiting times for routine out-patients appointments at The Children's Hospital, Temple Street; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is still a 13 month waiting time for ophthalmology out-patient appointments; if he has satisfied himself that the number of staff is adequate to meet patient demand within the six month target time; if he will allocate additional funding to the hospital to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16920/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Since coming into office, I am acutely aware of the importance of reducing waiting lists and waiting times, particularly for children. To this end my Department has allocated £150,000 in 1999 to Temple Street Hospital under the waiting list initiative for the provision of treatment to children on waiting lists. At the end of March 1999, the most recent period for which information is available, there was a total of 98 children awaiting ophthalmology procedures at Temple Street. Patients are chosen for treatment under the waiting list initiative based on clinical priority.

However, if the patient's general practitioner feels that her condition has deteriorated or requires urgent intervention, he would be best placed to advise on the availability of appropriate alternative services.