Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 4

Written Answers. - Waterford Regional Hospital.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

222 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the steps he proposes to take to deal with the staffing problems at Waterford Regional Hospital which is preventing a date being set for the hip replacement operation of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who has now been on the waiting list for the operation for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I am aware that certain problems have arisen with regard to the provision of an elective orthopaedic service in the Waterford area. This year I have approved an additional £517,000 for the provision of elective orthopaedic services in the south-east and I agreed a number of measures with the South Eastern Health Board which have enabled the output of hip replacement operations to be greatly increased.

This increase is quite substantial in that output has increased from 71 in 1989 to 127 up to 31 October 1990 — an increase of 78 per cent.

Arrangements regarding an individual patient's position on a waiting list and when his/her operation will be performed are entirely a matter for the clinician concerned and the Deputy will appreciate that it is not a matter in which I have any involvement. However, I have been informed by the South Eastern Health Board that this patient was admitted to Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital for a hip replacement operation in September 1988 but declined to have the procedure performed. I understand that this patient subsequently changed his mind and I am informed by the board that he remains on the waiting list. I would suggest to the Deputy that if the condition of the person referred to in the question has deteriorated, his general practitioner should contact his consultant in order to stress the urgency of the case.