Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 10

Written Answers. - Admission of Patient to Hospital.

Patrick McCartan

Ceist:

201 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the provision of an operation to remove tonsils of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person can no longer be prescribed antibiotics for his infected throat; and if he will indicate how soon Temple Street Hospital can provide this urgent operation.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The admission of a patient to hospital is a matter for the clinical decision of the consultant concerned and the hospital authority. Non-urgent (elective) cases are put on a waiting list to ensure that emergency and urgent cases can be dealt with promptly.

I understand that this patient was placed on the waiting list for admission in October 1989 and is due for admission to Temple Street on 29 May 1990.

I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that as part of an urgent action programme embarked on by the Government, I allocated additional resources to Temple Street Hospital in order to significantly increase the level of service available there and in particular to shorten ENT waiting lists.