Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2012
209 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the new St. Mary’s Geriatric Hospital in Mullingar, County Westmeath, will be opened; if the recent cutbacks in budget 2012 will have an effect on the opening of this hospital; the level of service it is due to provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4525/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
210 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital test in respect of a person (details supplied). [4536/12]
View answerI am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies — mainly the HSE and the NTPF.
As a priority, public hospitals were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that the vast majority of hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012 the SDU will support hospitals in the delivery of a 9 month maximum wait time for in-patient or daycase surgery
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.
