Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

115 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the situation pertaining in the Eastern Health Board area whereby patients in the Naas Hospital catchment area are obliged to wait for long periods for access to the bone fracture service in the Meath Hospital while other patients get direct access to this service; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these patients with broken legs, arms, and elbows are in severe trauma and those with fractured femurs are in a life threatening situation; and if he will have arrangements made for equity of access for all patients from the Eastern Health Board area to the bone fracture service in the Meath Hospital. [14715/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I am aware of the difficulties referred to by the Deputy. The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals Dublin, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, has identified the need for an additional consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the new hospital in Tallaght. My Department is considering this application in the context of the resources available and having regard to the competing demands for such resources.

Discussions are already taking place between the management of Naas Hospital and the Tallaght Hospital authorities regarding the co-ordination of acute hospital provision, including orthopaedics, to deliver a comprehensive service to the catchment area as a whole.

The Deputy may wish to note that bed allocation is a matter for the authorities at the new hospital and is subject to review depending on patient demand.