Vol. 472 No. 2
108 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for a back operation in view of the fact that he is a single parent with two young children and he cannot afford to be off work for much longer. [22887/96]
Limerick East): Inquiries have been made from the authorities in Beaumont Hospital regarding the person concerned. The hospital has confirmed that this person is on its waiting list but regrets that at this stage it is unable to provide an exact date for his appointment.
The hospital has suggested that if the person concerned feels that his condition has deteriorated he should contact his general practitioner who is best placed to take up the matter with the consultant directly.
109 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an operation on his leg veins in view of the fact that he has been waiting since early 1995 and is in severe pain. [22890/96]
Limerick East): As the provision of vascular surgery to eligible persons in County Mayo is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board in the first instance I have asked the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly as a matter of urgency.
110 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has to wait for so long for a medical procedure; if he will ensure that this situation does not prevail indefinitely; the proposals/resources/actions, if any, he proposes to take to alleviate the situation and to ensure that this person is called immediately; if so, the date on which this person will be called for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22912/96]
Limerick East): Inquiries have been made from the Western Health Board and I understand that the board has confirmed that the person concerned is on its waiting list. However, the board is unable at this stage to provide an exact date for her admission. The scheduling of admissions is the clinical decision of the consultant concerned and the board has advised that if this person feels that her condition has deteriorated she should contact her general practitioner who is best placed to take up the matter directly with the consultant.
The Deputy may wish to note that under the 1996 waiting list initiative the Western Health Board was allocated £1,031,900 to enable it to undertake additional work in order to reduce waiting lists for various specialities, including ENT.
