Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:170 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he will take to reduce the waiting lists for children awaiting heart surgery. [13493/97]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, is the national referral centre for paediatric heart disease. I am aware there has been concern over the waiting times for children in this speciality. Paediatric cardiac surgery and cardiology services have been the subject of ongoing discussions between my Department and Our Lady's Hospital and the Deputy may be aware that a sum of £500,000 has been committed from the waiting list initiative to address some of the pressures on these services.
My Department recently asked the hospital to put forward proposals for the spending of this additional funding so that the problem of waiting times can be addressed in the most appropriate and effective manner. These proposals have now been received and examined and are due to be discussed in detail with the hospital in the coming days.
Michael Ring
Ceist:171 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an eye cataract removal operation in view of the fact that he is in his late 70s, lives alone and cannot manage with his failing sight. [13568/97]
As the provision of ophthalmology treatment to the person concerned, is the responsibility of the Western Health Board, 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.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:172 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will be given a date by the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, for a spinal fusion operation in view of the fact that he is currently in considerable pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13687/97]
As the determination of in-patient appointments is a matter for the hospital authorities in the first instance, I have asked the secretary-manager of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital to investigate the position regarding this patient. Given the particular circumstances of this case, I have requested that he reply to the Deputy directly, as a matter of urgency.