Bernard Allen
Ceist:226 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the average waiting period for rheumatology out-patients in the Southern Health Board area.
Written Answers. - Rheumatology Patients.
The two main centres in the Southern Health Board area at which rheumatology out-patients services are provided are the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital and Cork Regional Hospital. Cork Regional Hospital also provides a monthly clinic at Tralee General Hospital, primarily for the convenience of return patients from the Kerry area.
Priority is given to urgent cases in scheduling out-patient appointments. The average waiting period for nonurgent rheumatology out-patient appointments is four months at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital and 11 weeks at Cork Regional Hospital.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:227 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the average waiting period for rheumatology out-patients in Dublin hospitals.
Waiting times vary from two to ten months for rheumatology outpatients in Dublin hospitals.