asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the financial allocation to the Adelaide hospital, Dublin 8 is only adequate to allow each orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital to carry out one major operation each week; if, in view of the waste of surgical expertise involved, the increased workload of the Adelaide hospital as a result of the closure of Dr. Steevens hospital, Dublin 8 and the greatly increased waiting lists, he will review the financial allocation for the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Adelaide Hospital (Dublin) Allocation.
34.
The Adelaide hospital received an allocation of £6.25 million in 1988 which included provision for the additional workload arising out of the transfer of services from Dr. Steevens' hospital to that hospital. I am satisfied that this allocation was adequate to enable the Adelaide hospital to continue to provide an efficient and effective service and to deal with the additional workload transferring from Dr. Steevens'.
Officials of my Department have met and will be meeting again shortly with the hospital authorities in the Adelaide to discuss how the position of the orthopaedic surgeons can be improved within the context of the allocation. However, it is a matter for the hospital authorities to decide upon the measures necessary to live within the allocation.
I am confident that when the service settles in at its new location we will see an overall improvement in the quality of service available and a general reduction in the numbers on waiting lists.