Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 4

Written Answers. - Patient Statistics.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

163 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of patients who received heart bypass surgery in the three month period ending 31 January in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6238/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

164 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of patients who underwent hip replacement surgery in the three month period ending 31 January in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6239/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

The number of patients who had surgery in the specialties requested by the Deputy in the three month period ending 31 January for years 1998, 1999 and 2000 is set out in the following table. The data for the period ending 31 January 2001 is not yet available.

Specialty	Period ending 31 January 1998	Period ending 31 January 1999	Period ending 31 January 2000
Heart by-pass surgery	272	196	228
Total Hip Replacement	447	731	614
Partial Hip Replacement	286	356	359
Revision of Hip Replacement	75	98	62

Funding of £7.6 million for the further development of cardiac surgery services has also been made available for 2001. I am confident that this funding will build on previous years' success in reducing the total number of adults and children on the waiting list. The cardiac surgery waiting list initiative has had and will continue to have a positive impact on the public cardiac waiting list.