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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 8

Written Answers. - Waiting Lists for Surgery.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

230 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the average delay in each of the health board areas for those with medical cards who need hip replacement operations and heart by-pass surgery.

The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department.

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.

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