asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork who was admitted to the Regional Hospital, Cork, following an accident with two fingers severed from his right hand on 6 November, was caused to wait for 39 hours and 45 minutes before an operation was carried out on his hand.
Written Answers. - Surgical Treatment Delays.
163.
Responsibility for the treatment of patients in hospital is primarily a matter for the hospital authority, in this instance, the Southern Health Board. I did however ask the board for a report on the case and was informed that the patient injured his fingers in an accident at work. He was brought to the accident and emergency department of Cork Regional Hospital at 10.30 p.m. on 6 November last. He received immediate attention which controlled the bleeding and he was sent for X-ray examination. He then received antibiotic and analgesic treatment and was admitted to a ward at 1.10 a.m.
The clinical decision was that the fingers could not be replanted and that they consequently required amputation. As the case did not require immediate operative treatment it was put on the Trauma list for later that day. However, as ten urgent Trauma cases needed surgery later that day this case had to be deferred to the afternoon of the following day. The patient was retained in the hospital, the operation was carried out successfully and he was discharged on antibiotic treatment on Thursday, 9 November.
He attended a dressing clinic on 15 November and he was considered to have made an excellent recovery. He expressed his appreciation of the care and the treatment which he had been given. He has a further appointment for the dressing clinic on 22 November.
In normal circumstances I would consider it inappropriate for me to comment in public on the clinical details of an individual patient. However as this case had already received some publicity, I considered it important to set the record straight.
164.
asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in having a person (details supplied) in County Cork admitted to hospital for surgery; and if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being imposed on this person.
I have contacted the Mid-Western Health Board in regard to this case and I will communicate with the Deputy soon.