Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

99 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) and others like him have been awaiting urulogical surgery at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, for more than three years. [14858/01]

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

203 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he proposes to take in view of the recent breakdown in talks between the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Temple Street, Tallaght and Our Lady's Hospitals on the provision of paediatric surgery in the three Dublin childrens' hospitals. [14714/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 203 together.

For some time now, there has been disagreement between the three children's hospitals in Dublin concerning the location of certain specialties and the structure of consultant paediatric surgery posts. The failure of the three hospitals to agree on the structuring of a specialist paediatric surgery post, as recommended by Comhairle na nOspidéal in its report "Review of Paediatric Surgery Services", has prevented the post being filled in a permanent capacity.

I am most concerned and disappointed at this situation. I have recently asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority to enter into discussions with the three hospitals to see if agreement can be reached on minor modifications of the structure and sessional commitments attaching to the specialist paediatric surgery posts in the hospitals in the interest of improved service delivery and enhanced patient care. I am hopeful that agreement on these modifications, which would require the approval of Comhairle na nOspidéal, may lead to an early resolution of the current disagreement.