Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cardiac Services.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

57 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cardiac surgery cases performed in the Mater Hospital and nationally for each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18531/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I have been advised by the hospitals concerned which perform cardiac surgery, adults and children, that the numbers requested by the Deputy for each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 are as follows:

	1997	1998	1999
Mater Hospital	978	982	870
National Total	1,531	1,710	1,683

These figures include cardiac surgery procedures purchased under the cardiac surgery waiting list initiatives.

As Minister for Health and Children, my priority is to address the existing cardiac surgery waiting lists and the ultimate objective is to achieve an average six month waiting period for those on the lists. I am confident that the development of additional adult public cardiac surgery facilities at St. James's Hospital, Dublin and the proposed new cardiac surgery developments at University College Hospital, Galway will greatly increase the procedures performed. Target activity levels are in the region of 450 procedures annually at St. James's Hospital and 300 procedures at UCHG. This additional activity will increase the existing national adult public cardiac surgery capacity by over 50%. I am also developing additional children's cardiac surgery capacity at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin in association with the national cardiac unit, Mater Hospital to provide for up to an additional 100 cardiac procedures for children. This additional activity will increase existing paediatric cardiac surgery capacity by up to 40%.