Vol. 480 No. 6
278 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in having a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny called for an operation in view of the fact that he is unfit to return to work because of ill health. [14584/97]
I understand from the Mater Hospital that the person in question is on the waiting list for cardiac surgery since December 1996 but due to the number of emergency admissions the hospital is not in a position to give a date of admission. However, it is hoped that this person will be admitted within the next six months. The scheduling of surgery is a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant concerned, 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.
