Vol. 508 No. 1
518 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give statistics for the number of children in Dublin and nationally who had their tonsils removed in 1959, 1979 and 1999; the number of hospitals or consultants which perform this operation; the way in which this compares to 1959 and 1979 and particularly in relation to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [18213/99]
The information is not available in the form sought by the Deputy for the years 1959 and 1979. The number of children who had their tonsils removed in 1998, the last complete year for which figures are available was nationally 3,896. This operation is available to children in 20 hospitals.
As the determination of in-patient appointments is a matter for the hospital authorities in the first instance, based on a clinical assessment of need, I have asked the secretary-manager of The Children's Hospital, Temple Street, to investigate the position regarding this patient. Given the particular circumstances of this case, I have requested that he reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
