Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2012
539. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide paediatric congenital cardiac services here; the number of consultant specialists expert in this area working here; the hours worked and the facilities available to them; if he considers these resources adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41625/12]
View answerThe Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic service at Our Lady's Children's Hospital (OLCHC) provides for the care and treatment of infants and children with congenital and acquired heart disease from the Republic of Ireland and increasingly from the North of Ireland. This service is delivered by five Consultant Cardiologists (a 6th Consultant Cardiologist is CAAC approved and, pending approval, recruitment will be commenced) and three Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeons and supported by a multidisciplinary team.
Cardiothoracic surgery is scheduled for 4.5 days a week with approximately 500 - 550 operations carried out annually (prior to 2010 was it was 3 days a week). The 3 cardiothoraric surgeons are 27 hours OLCHC and 10 hours MMUH each, to cater for the transition of patients to the adult congenital cardiac service in MMUH.
Facilities in OLCHC to support the Cardiology and Cardiothoracic services include:
- Inpatient and Outpatient facilities
- Paediatric operating theatres
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit - additional 2 beds opened in 2011
- Access to full range of diagnostics including ECG, ECHO, Cardiac MRI, X-ray and labs
- Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory - for diagnostic and interventional procedures
- Access to paediatric tertiary and quaternary specialties and sub specialties
In September there were 40 patients on the active waiting list. OLCHC currently has extensive local waiting times for interventional cardiology and the HSE is working with the hospital to progress this matter.
