Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 7

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

147 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if he will give an age analysis of the 475 people who have been waiting for a by-pass operation for over four years, further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 2 July 1996 raised by Deputy N. Ahern and the details subsequently provided; the number of by-pass operations which have been completed under the special allocation of waiting list funds; the number which were in the category of persons waiting for over four years; whether these persons have been overlooked; and when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will receive his operation. [22215/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The age analysis sought by the Deputy is not routinely collected. I am informed that it would take considerable time and effort to collect this information.

The number of open heart operations performed to date under the 1996 waiting list initiative is 84. The selection of patients for surgery is a clinical decision of the consultant concerned and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the process.

In relation to the person referred to by the Deputy, I understand from the Mater Hospital that this patient should receive his operation shortly.