Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Admission.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

180 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the length of time children as young as ten years of age must wait, sometimes in agony for grommet insertion operations; and if he will confirm that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be operated upon before September 1993, which is the anticipated date of admission, as the child suffers from severe pain and profound deafness which is affecting his school work.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The child in question was admitted on 27 April last to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin for his operation. I understand that he has a further appointment for a check-up at the hospital on 16 August, 1993.

The Deputy will appreciate that the admission of a patient to hospital is a matter for the consultant concerned to determine, and urgent cases are always accorded priority. At Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, waiting lists are constantly reviewed by the consultants and urgent cases treated promptly.

Should a parent be concerned about their child's condition they should return to their general practitioner who would be in the best position to stress the urgency of the case directly to the consultant at the hospital.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government has allocated £20 million for a major action programme to reduce waiting times in the areas of orthopaedic surgery — hip replacement and other procedures — ophthalmology — cataract — ear, nose, and throat surgery, cardiac surgery — by-pass operations — vascular surgery — varicose veins — and plastic surgery. The Government objective is to eliminate waiting lists in excess of 12 months in these specialities, and to set a maximum period of six months for children awaiting ENT or eye treatment.

Discussions regarding waiting lists are now nearing completion with the various hospitals and health boards, and I will be shortly announcing my decisions in regard to the allocation of the £20 million.