Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

102 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if his Department will assist an elderly person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who is in serious need of a joint replacement and who cannot get an appointment in hospital until March 1997. [18690/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I understand from the hospital concerned that orthopaedic surgeons screen all referral letters from general practitioners and allocate appointments accordingly. In this case the person referred to by the Deputy was screened and allocated an appointment date. Should the person feel that her condition warrants more immediate attention she should return to her general practitioner who would be in the best position to emphasise the urgency of her case to the consultant directly.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

103 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for each procedure in each hospital in the eight health board areas. [18691/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement.

Hospital	Speciality	Procedure Type	Total Public Waiting List at 30 June 1996
Eastern Health Board
Adelaide Hospital	Cardiology		1
	Gastro-enterology		7
	Nuerology		5
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	146
	Orthopaedics	Other joint replacements	43
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	70
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	54
	Vascular	Other procedures	6
	Vascular	Varicose veins	255
	Total		587
Beaumont Hospital	Cardiology		284
	Dental		50
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	686
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	47
	Endocrine		18
	Gastro-enterology		80
	Gynaecology	All procedures	110
	Medicine		10
	Nephrology		47
	Neurology		52
	Neurosurgery		474
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	161
	Pain		38
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	50
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	2
	Respiratory		20
	Rheumatology		24
	Surgery	All procedures	203
	Urology	All procedures	197
	Vascular	Other procedures	466
	Total		3,019
Coombe Women's Hospital	Gynaecology	All procedures	70
James Connolly Memorial Hospital (Blanchardstown)	Gynaecology Orthopaedics	All procedures Other joint replacements	1 1
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	21
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	3
	Respiratory		1
	Rheumatology		1
	Surgery	All procedures	22
	Urology	All procedures	19
	Total		69
Mater Misericordiae Hospital	Cardiac Surgery	Adults (CABG)	659
	Cardiac Surgery	Adults (other surgery)	120
	Cardiology		561
	Dermatology		16
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	366
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	5
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	6
	Endocrine		9
	Gastro-enterology		40
	Gynaecology	All procedures	9
	Haematology		4
	Maxillo-Facial		9
	Medicine		3
	Nephrology		1
	Neurology		3
	Oncology		6
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	110
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	38
	Opthalmology	Children (all procedures)	11
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	66
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (cosmetic)	53
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	237
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	23
	Respiratory		6
	Rheumatology		2
	Surgery	All procedures	41
	Urology	All procedures	232
	Vascular	Other procedures	31
	Vascular	Varicose veins	4
	Total		2,671
Meath Hospital	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	106
	Gynaecology	All procedures	1
	Nephrology		21
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	138
	Surgery	All procedures	80
	Urology	All procedures	130
	Vascular	Other procedures	2
	Vascular	Varicose veins	4
	Total		482
Naas General Hospital	Medicine		27
	Surgery	All procedures	20
	Total		47
National Children's Hospital (Harcourt Street)	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	11
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	95
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	8
	Surgery	All procedures	114
	Total		228
National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street	Gynaecology	All procedures	168
Our Lady's Hospital (Crumlin)	Cardiac Surgery	Children (all procedures)	44
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	395
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	79
	Total		518
Rotunda Hospital (Dublin)	Gynaecology	All procedures	231
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (Dublin)	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	118
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	14
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	21
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	32
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	467
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	141
	Opthalmology	Children (all procedures)	116
	Total		909
St. Mary's Hospital, Cappagh	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	682
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	173
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	130
	Total		985
St. Michael's Hospital (Dún Laoghaire)	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	43
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	18
	Medicine		8
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	27
	Surgery	All procedures	39
	Urology	All procedures	21
	Total		156
St. Vincent's Hospital (Elm Park)	Cardiology		59
	Dental		3
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	192
	Endocrine		4
	Gastro-enterology		43
	Gerontology		10
	Gynaecology	All procedures	163
	Haematology		1
	Nephrology		11
	Neurology		15
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	50
	Opthalmology	Adult (other procedures)	18
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	52
	Pain		85
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (cosmetic)	42
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	43
	Psychiatry		17
	Respiratory		45
	Rheumatology		4
	Surgery	All procedures	249
	Thoracic		32
	Urology	All procedures	48
	Vascular	Other procedures	155
	Vascular	Varicose veins	244
	Total		1,585
St. James's Hospital	Cardiac Surgery	Adults (CABG)	908
	Cardiology		10
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	226
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	22
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	6
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	38
	Gynaecology	All procedures	31
	Maxillo-Facial		425
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	108
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (cosmetic)	67
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	418
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	27
	Surgery	All procedures	194
	Urology	All procedures	112
	Vascular	Other procedures	35
	Vascular	Varicose veins	640
	Total		3,267
Temple Street Children's Hospital (Dublin)	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	47
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	338
	Ophthalmology	Children (all procedures)	33
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	10
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	106
	Surgery	All procedures	27
	Urology	All procedures	3
	Total		564
Total EHB area			15,556
Mid-Western Health Board
Nenagh General Hospital	Urology	All procedures	11
	Vascular	Varicose veins	18
	Total		29
Regional Hospital (Dooradoyle) Limerick	Dental		162
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	51
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	6
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	4
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	40
	Gynaecology	All procedures	185
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	402
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	83
	Opthalmology	Children (all procedures)	44
	Surgery	All procedures	108
	Vascular	Varicose veins	53
	Total		1,138
Regional Orthopaedic Hospital (Croom)	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	580
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	185
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	41
	Total		806
St. John's Hospital (Limerick)	Gynaecology	All procedures	19
	Medicine		5
	Surgery	All procedures	105
	Total		129
Total MWHB area			2,102
Midland Health Board Mullingar General Hospital	Gynaecology	All procedures	68
Portlaoise General Hospital	Gynaecology	All procedures	36
	Surgery	All procedures	87
	Vascular	Varicose veins	12
	Total		135
Tullamore General Hospital	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	408
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	128
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	239
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	511
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	105
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	9
	Vascular	Varicose veins	9
	Total		1,409
Total MHB area			1,612
North-Eastern Health Board Cavan General Hospital	Gynaecology	All procedures	56
	Medicine		14
	Vascular	Varicose veins	50
	Total		120
Louth County Hospital, Dundalk	Dental		60
Monaghan General Hospital	Surgery	All procedures	175
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Drogheda)	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	180
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	58
	Endoscopy		197
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	140
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	8
	Total		583
Our Lady's General Hospital, Navan	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	239
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	116
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	13
	Total		368
Total NEHB area			1,306
North-Western Health Board
Letterkenny General Hospital	Gynaecology	All procedures	123
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	59
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	17
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	4
	Surgery	All procedures	164
	Urology	All procedures	157
	Vascular	Varicose veins	158
	Total		682
Sligo General Hospital	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	275
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	62
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	40
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	150
	Gynaecology	All procedures	21
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	27
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	11
	Opthalmology	Children (all procedures)	4
	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	150
	Orthopaedics	Other joint replacements	2
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	30
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	14
	Surgery	All procedures	65
	Total		851
Total NWHB area			1,533
South-Eastern Health Board Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilereene	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	272
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	69
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	27
	Total		368
Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel	Surgery	All procedures	53
	Urology	All procedures	15
	Total		68
St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel	Gynaecology	All procedures	174
St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny	Gynaecology	All procedures	157
	Surgery	All procedures	397
	Vascular	Varicose veins	129
	Total		683
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	238
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	160
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	30
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	132
	Gerontology		6
	Gynaecology	All procedures	124
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	49
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	10
	Opthalmology	Children (all procedures)	5
	Surgery	All procedures	177
	Vascular	Varicose veins	10
	Total		941
	Dental		96
	Gynaecology	All procedures	44
	Surgery	All procedures	123
	Vascular	Varicose veins	91
	Total		354
Total SEHB area			2,588
Southern Health Board
Cork University Hospital	Cardiac Surgery	Adults (CABG)	86
	Cardiac Surgery	Adults (other surgery)	7
	Cardiology		46
	Gynaecology	All procedures	21
	Neurosurgery		32
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	194
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	9
	Opthalmology	Children (all procedures)	28
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	237
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	56
	Rheumatology		10
	Urology	All procedures	164
	Total		890
Mercy Hospital, Cork	Gynaecology	All procedures	12
	Surgery	All procedures	175
	Urology	All procedures	150
	Vascular	Varicose veins	338
	Total		675
South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital Ltd.	Cardiology		1
	Dermatology		2
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	322
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	12
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	45
	Endocrine		2
	Gynaecology	All procedures	260
	Surgery	All procedures	194
	Total		838
St. Mary's Hospital, Gurranebraher	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	466
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	123
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	88
	Total		677
Tralee General Hospital	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	6
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	2
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	1
	Gynaecology	All procedures	83
	Orthopaedics	Other joint replacements	26
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	37
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	17
	Total		172
Total SHB area			3,252
Western Health Board
Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	67
	Surgery	All procedures	77
	Total		144
Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway	Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	355
	Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	204
	Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	64
	Rheumatology		5
	Total		628
Roscommon General Hospital	Surgery	All procedures	14
University College Hospital, Galway	Cardiology		75
	E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	239
	E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	24
	E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	7
	E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	79
	Opthalmology	Adults (cataracts)	348
	Opthalmology	Adults (other procedures)	107
	Opthalmology	Children (all porcedures)	41
	Plastic Surgery	Adults (functional)	242
	Plastic Surgery	Children (all procedures)	57
	Rheumatology		5
	Surgery	All procedures	66
	Urology	All procedures	335
	Vascular	Varicose veins	87
	Total		1,712
Total WHB area			2,498
Grand Total — All Health Board Areas			30,447

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

104 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious delays in having eye testing carried out in the north Cork area for medical card holders; if he will have arrangements made to investigate this matter; when two patients (details supplied) in County Cork will be called for testing; and if he will ensure that alternative accommodation be secured for eye testing and other such services when health clinics are not available for whatever reason. [18778/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The provision of eye testing to eligible persons in the north Cork area is the statutory responsibility of the Southern Health Board.

I understand from the health board that the waiting period for the north Cork area for eye testing is about seven months. In the case of the two persons named by the Deputy I understand these persons are due to be called for testing in February 1997 at the Mitchelstown ophthalmic clinic.

When a health board clinic is not available for whatever reason the board makes alternative arrangements whenever possible. In the case of Mitchelstown ophthalmic clinic the position is that this clinic was suspended from February to August 1996 due to the building of an extension and it was not possible for the board to make alternative arrangements. However, the board is arranging additional ophthalmic clinics to clear the backlog arising from the temporary closure.