Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1080. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient surgical procedures cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of outpatient procedures cancelled at the hospital during the period; if the cancellation was at the request of the patient or the hospital authorities in each case in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31574/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1081. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient surgical procedures cancelled at Sligo University Hospital in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of outpatient procedures cancelled at the hospital during the period; if the cancellation was at the request of the patient or the hospital authorities in each case in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31575/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1080 and 1081 together.
Maintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE advise that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, medical reasons, and patient choice.
In relation to the specific questions raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
