Michael Finucane
Ceist:232 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health (1) the number of public patients from the Mid-Western Health Board area awaiting heart surgery and (2) the average waiting period for this operation.
Written Answers. - Heart Surgery.
Heart surgery for public patients is performed in three locations, the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, the Regional Hospital, Cork and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
The number of patients from the Mid-Western Health Board area awaiting heart surgery was 52 in November 1991.
The admission of a patient to hospital for cardiac surgery is, of course, a clinical decision taken by the consultant concerned and is based on the patient's condition and not on the length of time on the waiting list. Emergency cases are dealt with immediately.