Vol. 452 No. 8
113 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who is on the priority list for a triple heart by-pass in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, will be called for this very urgent operation in view of the fact that this is causing him great hardship as he has six young children and there is a history of similar heart problems in his own family. [8868/95]
Limerick East): I understand the person in question was placed on the Mater Hospital's waiting list on 17 February 1995 and at this time the hospital is not able to give an exact date of admission. The scheduling of surgery is a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant concerned, is based solely on the patient's condition and not on the length of time on the waiting list. Emergency cases are given priority. The patient's general practitioner should, accordingly, keep the consultant informed on a regular basis of the patient's condition.
