Vol. 508 No. 3
219 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the need for a neurologist to be appointed by the South-Eastern Health Board; if the waiting list for this service is over six months; and the plans, if any, he has to improve this service. [18998/99]
As the Deputy will be aware, the overall range of medical and surgical services available at Waterford Regional Hospital has been greatly expanded in recent years. New regional specialties of dermatology, nephrology, rheumatology, vascular surgery and oncology have been established and a trauma orthopaedic service has also been developed on site. These developments have been made possible by an increase of over £11 million in revenue funding for the hospital in the last three years and by the completion of major phased capital works on the site at a total cost of some £65 million. My Department is continuing to work with the South Eastern Health Board management in identifying and addressing priorities for the ongoing development of services at the hospital in the context of available funding.
