John Brady
Ceist:1311. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient hospital cancellations at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway in 2018 and to date in 2019. [32543/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 July 2019
Ceisteanna (1311, 1326, 1327, 1328, 1338)
John Brady
Ceist:1326. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures cancelled and subsequently rescheduled for Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019. [32558/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Brady
Ceist:1327. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who had their appointment cancelled on more than one occasion for Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019. [32559/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Brady
Ceist:1328. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures cancelled in circumstances in which a patient did not attend Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019. [32560/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Brady
Ceist:1338. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of X-rays cancelled at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [32570/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1311, 1326 to 1328, inclusive and 1338 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 queries raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.