Vol. 396 No. 2
127 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 has been waiting approximately four years for a tonsilectomy and has still no definite date set at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1 despite several pleas from his family doctor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy is aware, the admission of a patient to hospital is a matter for the clinical decision of the consultant concerned. Non-urgent (elective) cases are put on a waiting list. This list is kept under regular review and priority is given to those cases which because of medical need, must be dealt with promptly.
I should mention that the information available to me in respect of this patient is that he/she was first placed on a waiting list in late 1988.
As a result of the additional resources which have been made available, waiting times for ENT procedures have been significantly reduced and it has been possible to make arrangements to have this patient admitted to Temple Street before the end of March.
