The course of treatment and the scheduling of patient admissions are matters for the hospital authorities in the first instance, based on a clinical assessment of need. Given the particular circumstances of this case, I have asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority to investigate the position regarding this patient and to reply to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
Since coming into office, I am acutely aware of the importance of reducing waiting lists and waiting times, particularly for children. Over the last number of years, my Department has provided substantial additional funding under the waiting list initiative with a view to achieving a significant reduction in the number of children awaiting elective procedures. To this end, my Department has allocated £237,000 to Temple Street Hospital under the waiting list initiative for 2000. Some £1.719 million has also been allocated to Beaumont Hospital, a proportion of which will be utilised to undertake additional paediatric procedures. The overall objective is to ensure that no child is waiting more than six months for treatment in particular target specialties, including ENT.
