Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cappagh hospital is a fantastic facility, with the best of staff, including nurses and surgeons. People who have availed of its services have nothing but praise for it, although there has been a 40% increase in the number of patients, coupled with a reduction in funding because of recent budgets, as well as a cessation of the funding from the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Increased funding in 2015 has been promised by the Minister, which should allow for more inpatient procedures. The opening of closed and under-utilised facilities should result in additional theatres, with approximately four theatres operating on a daily basis. That is urgently needed.

Recently, an orthopaedic surgeon told my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, that the level of funding for the hospital has been nowhere near sufficient to look after people in a timely way. This lack of funding prevented a person from having a hip replacement that is urgently required. In response to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, indicated that the HSE has been engaging with Cappagh hospital and trying to identify ways to cut waiting lists and increase resources. He stated that additional funds would be made available in 2015 to open an additional 1.5 theatres per day. I would love to know the progress of this and if waiting lists will demonstrate a real decrease with this funding.

At the end of January 686 patients were awaiting knee surgery, with 100 waiting between nine and 12 months and a further 70 more than a year. I have some examples from my own area, although I am sure there are a myriad of examples throughout the country. A 76 year old constituent lives with her husband, who has Parkinson's disease and dementia, and she has been waiting two years for a back operation. It has been on an urgent list since 18 March 2014. On 5 September, the person was brought in for the pre-operation process. This woman is confined to her home and has the added problem of caring for her husband, who is reliant on her support.

There is a second case of a 50 year old man, married with three children, who has psoriatic arthritis, a chronic disease characterised by a form of inflammation of the skin and joints which can cause inflammation of the spine as well as tendons, cartilage, eyes, lung lining and, rarely, the aorta. He was referred to Cappagh hospital from Blanchardstown in February 2014, one year ago. He had his tendons done in Blanchardstown more than 18 months ago and he needs his hands straightened and fused. This should have been done shortly after his tendons had been done. An assessment form was sent to him only a month ago and he still has no indication of when this procedure will be carried out. His quality of life has been destroyed, as well as his ability to work or even play with his children.

I have a third case of a 79 year old woman who has been housebound because she needs a replacement knee. She has been waiting for three years in total, with no quality of life. A recent response to a parliamentary question on 16 December was sent to her family. It indicated that Cappagh hospital has confirmed that the woman was referred to the Mater and placed on the inpatient waiting list for Cappagh hospital for 2 April. This means she is eight months on the inpatient waiting list, and only patients waiting 14 months or longer are being treated. Cappagh hospital further stated that urgent patients continue to be prioritised, and it has advised that due to a strict chronological booking policy, all patients attending the hospital are being offered dates for a waiting time for surgery, with due regard to clinical categorisation.

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