Vol. 551 No. 2
304 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers on the waiting list for hip operations and other orthopaedic procedures at Tullamore General Hospital; and the numbers waiting up to three months, three to six months, six to nine months, nine months to a year and over a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10138/02]
305 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers on the waiting list for ear nose and throat treatment at Tullamore General Hospital; the numbers waiting up to three months, three to six months, six to nine months, nine months to a year and over a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10139/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.
The hospital in-patient waiting times and the numbers on waiting lists as at 31 December 2001 at Tullamore General Hospital, in the format collected by my Department, are being communicated separately to the Deputy. In relation to the other details requested by the Deputy, my Department has asked the chief executive officer at the Midland Health Board to look into the matter and reply directly to him.
The figures supplied to my Department by the Midland Health Board show that considerable progress has been made in reducing the number of people waiting for in-patient services at Tullamore General Hospital over the last number of years. The number of people waiting for in-patient treatment at December 2001 was 1,149. This represents a decrease of 29% on the comparable figures for December 2000. The number of people waiting for orthopaedic surgery has fallen by 48% during the same period, and the number of people waiting for ENT surgery has fallen by 29%.
On 15 February 2002, the Taoiseach announced that agreement has been reached to proceed with the next stage of the new hospital development at Tullamore. When complete this development will increase the bed complement at the hospital by 72. This increase in bed capacity will help to continue the work which has been done over the last number of years in reducing the in-patient waiting lists at the hospital.
I also announced recently the commissioning of an additional six beds for dialysis patients at Tullamore General Hospital in the current year. This represents an additional investment for the hospital of €0.485 million. These new public beds are part of the first phase of the provision of additional acute hospital beds as announced in the health strategy.
306 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an operation in view of the fact that this person is in constant pain, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and his condition could not deteriorate any more; and when the person will be called for surgery. [10147/02]
The provision of medical services in this instance is the responsibility of the 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.
307 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will expedite treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is waiting for a place in St. Patrick's Assessment Centre, Cashel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter [10148/02]
Responsibility for the provision of health services in the Cashel area rests, in the first instance, with the South-Eastern Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the board to examine the issue raised and reply direct to the Deputy.
