Vol. 533 No. 3
187 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people waiting for operations in the neurosurgery unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and the steps he will take to improve the service offered to public patients. [8624/01]
The number of people waiting for neurosurgery at Beaumont hospital is 498. This is a reduction of 8% on the number waiting for neurosurgery at the end of September 2000.
It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting list and waiting times for hospital treatment. Dedicated funding for waiting list procedures of £34 million was allocated last year to health agencies and a further £34.5 million has been made available under the waiting list initiative for 2001. This investment is being made in conjunction with longer term measures associated with the £2 billion investment under the national development plan, the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the expert review group on the waiting list initiative, the national bed capacity review and the winter initiative which I recently announced.
The newly constituted Comhairle na nÓspideal has established a sub-group to initiate a review of neurological services and related issues. The review will focus on updating a July 1991 report of comhairle taking into account recent advances in the provision of services and increasing demand for a standard approach to post-operative care and rehabilitation. I look forward to receiving its recommendations in due course.
188 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will have an urgently needed back operation. [8625/01]
Responsibility for the provision of hospital services to residents of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.
189 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will intervene with St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin, and have a bed made available for a person (details supplied), who is at present a patient in Sligo General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8627/01]
The provision of medical treatment to eligible persons in County Sligo is the statutory responsibility of the North Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.
