asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the great distress that has been caused to a number of patients in pain awaiting hip operations who were attending Dr. Steeven's Hospital, Dublin 8 until it closed recently; the hospital these patients are to attend; their prospects of an early operation especially for those who already have had operations planned twice or three times and have had them cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hip Operations.
71.
The Deputy will be aware that there have been lengthy waiting lists for elective orthopaedic surgery for many years, not least because of the ever increasing demand for new treatments which are generally very successful. The placing of persons on a waiting list is a clinical decision for the consultant involved. There is a regular assessment of those on the waiting list by the consultant, who takes into consideration each patient's condition and other circumstances in determining their place on the list.
Should a consultant feel that a patient's condition has deteriorated while on the waiting list and require immediate attention, the patient will receive the appropriate attention as a matter of urgency.
Facilities have now been provided in the Meath and Adelaide Hospitals for patients who require such operations and who were formerly seen by consultants in Dr. Steeven's Hospital. Operating facilities now available in these hospitals represent a considerable improvement on those which were available in Dr. Steevens Hospital. Appropriate provision has been made in the non-capital allocations of these hospitals. I am confident that when staff and services settle in at their new location we will see a significant overall improvement in the quality of service available and a general reduction in the number on waiting lists.
In relation to waiting lists for hip operations in the Dublin area, I have asked my officials to keep the situation under constant review to ensure that people who urgently need an operation receive it. As I have previously stated, I regard the improvement of the availability of elective orthopaedic services as a priority.