Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cardiac Waiting List Initiative.

Bernard Allen

Question:

200 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions, if any, he will have with the British health authorities in view of the fact that Irish children waiting for life saving heart surgery at British hospitals are experiencing great delays and Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin was told that no referrals would be accepted at British top paediatric hospitals during December due to a critical shortage of theatre nurses, resulting in a significant backlog of Irish children on the waiting list. [4042/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I have had inquiries made of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, which is the national centre for paediatric cardiac services, into the issues raised by the Deputy. I am informed by the hospital that the shortage of theatre nurses in Britain did not impact on the number of Irish children accepted for cardiac surgery procedures at British paediatric hospitals under the cardiac waiting list initiative in December 1999. Six children were referred by the hospital to the UK for cardiac procedures under the initiative in December 1999. This compares with six referred to the UK in December 1998 and seven referred in 1997 under this initiative.

Continuing referrals to the UK under the cardiac waiting list initiative in 2000 will be the subject of discussion between officials of my Department and the hospital in the context of the hospital's service plan meeting for this year.