Jim Higgins
Ceist:65 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the provision of surgery for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who has a hernia complaint.
Written Answers. - Surgical Patient/Applicant.
The admission of a patient to hospital for treatment is a clinical decision which is taken by the consultant in charge. Patients are assessed to determine their medical priority and urgent cases are always treated promptly. Should any patient feel that their condition has deteriorated 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 position in relation to this patient is that he is on the out-patient waiting list for assessment at the Castlebar General Hospital, but the hospital is not in a position to say when he will be seen. If the patient is concerned about his condition or is in pain, he should request his general practitioner to contact the hospital on his behalf.