Vol. 524 No. 2
258 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the fact that the South Infirmary, Victoria Hospital, Cork, has been forced to severely limit its gynaecological operations for the month of September 2000 due to the ongoing crisis in medical manpower. [21916/00]
The provision of services at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital is the responsibility of the hospital in the first instance.
The hospital has informed me that, during the month of September, 87 gynaecological procedures were carried out there. However, due to nursing staff shortages, a further 39 patients who were awaiting minor gynaecological procedures had their operations deferred. Seventeen of these patients have now been given appointment dates and the remaining 22 patients will be given new appointment dates within the next three to four weeks. The hospital further states that this nursing staff shortage was of a temporary nature and that it expects to have a full nursing complement in the next three weeks.
259 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on a situation where the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1, has been forced to severely limit its gynaecological operations for August and September 2000 due to the ongoing crisis in medical manpower. [21917/00]
The responsibility for the provision of services at the Rotunda Hospital is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority in the first instance. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply directly to him as a matter of urgency.
