Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

Last year, when I tabled parliamentary questions on Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, I was informed there was a service level arrangement in place, money would be provided and work was being done with the children's hospital group, etc. Nine people have been waiting for surgery in Galway University Hospital for between three months and more than one year. One patient has been waiting for surgery since July 2014, when an infection caused her to have an operation done to remove rods from her back. She has not been given a date for surgery, and we have been informed that the reason for the delay is the lack of beds for post-operative care. It is unacceptable that patients with curvature exceeding 70 degrees are waiting for surgery.

According to a reply I received from the Minister, a number of cases involving children were transferred to the Blackrock Clinic. While it goes against the grain for me to advocate private care, in emergencies such as these, the use of alternative facilities, including private hospitals, should be considered. I am aware that consideration is being given to having these patients treated in Cappagh Hospital. The two people to whom I referred are serious and urgent cases. I do not understand the reason an alternative has not been provided for them on the basis that their cases are emergencies.

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