Dinny McGinley
Ceist:197 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of Donegal people on ear, nose and throat treatment waiting lists. [20147/97]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:198 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of Donegal people on the cardiac surgery waiting list; and the total number who have been on that list for a year or more. [20148/97]
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:199 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of Donegal people who are on the hip replacement or similar type operation waiting list. [20149/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 198 and 199 together.
Figures collected by my Department relate to the numbers of people on in-patient hospital waiting lists rather than to the patient's place of residence. It would not, therefore, be possible to give the Deputy a breakdown of the number of persons from County Donegal currently on a waiting list.
The following tables set out the numbers of adults and children on the national cardiac surgery waiting list at 30 September 1997, the latest date for which figures are available.
Adults
|
Agency |
Waiting 3-12 months |
Waiting over 12 months |
|
Cork University Hospital |
47 |
17 |
|
Mater Misericordiae |
138 |
764 |
|
St. James's Hospital |
151 |
360 |
|
Total |
336 |
1141 |
Children
|
Agency |
Waiting 3-6 months |
Waiting over 6 months |
|
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin |
35 |
74 |
The number of people in the North-Western Health Board area awaiting ENT and hip replacement procedures is as follows: ear, nose and throat procedures, 787; hip replacements, 81.
The provision of additional cardiac surgery facilities is a matter of national importance and one which will require significant capital and revenue investment over the next few years. The question of the provision of cardiac care services overall is under review at present. When this review is complete I will be making an announcement on the location of additional cardiac care services.
I am committed to taking all possible steps to reduce waiting lists and waiting times for patients. In 1997 the Government allocated a total of £8 million towards the cost of waiting list work and I am confident that this money will have a positive impact on waiting lists by the end of the year.
Michael Finucane
Ceist:200 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children the average waiting period for medical card holders who are awaiting hip operations, knee operations and cataract operations in the Mid-Western Health Board. [20166/97]
Admission for surgery in the public hospital service is determined having regard to the medical condition of patients and not on the basis of whether they are classified as public or private. The total number of persons on waiting lists for hip, knee and cataract operations in the Mid-Western Health Board area at 30 September 1997 is set out in the following table:
|
Waiting 3-12 months |
Waiting over 12 months |
|
|
Hip Replacements |
59 |
97 |
|
Knee Replacements |
14 |
32 |
|
Cataracts |
284 |
185 |