Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2017
226. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason a person (details supplied) who has been on the routine outpatient waiting list for appointment since June 2016 has not received an appointment for a hip replacement procedure. [7860/17]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
