Michael Ferris
Ceist:57 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the average waiting time for patients seeking hip replacements in the South-Eastern Health Board region; and the number of patients waiting.
Written Answers. - Hip Replacement Operations.
The average waiting time for patients from the South Eastern Health Board region who require hip replacements is between 15 and 18 months. The number of patients on the South Eastern Health Board hip replacement waiting list at 31 December 1991 was 262.
It will be of interest to the Deputy to know that, in 1991, 137 hip replacement operations were performed in the region. In 1990, my predecessor approved an additional £517,000 for the provision of elective orthopaedic services in the south-east and a similar amount has been provided in 1991 and 1992.