David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have raised this issue several times with the Minister for Health in respect of the orthopaedic unit at University Hospital Waterford, what was Waterford Regional Hospital. There are two issues, the trauma aspect and the matter of elective surgeries. Let us consider trauma first. We have the busiest trauma unit in the State at University Hospital Waterford but we only have one trauma theatre. Each of the next three busiest trauma units outside of Waterford have two trauma theatres. Obviously, there is a problem with capacity and this is leading to long waiting lists for people who need treatment. There is also a problem with people getting access to consultants and with referrals coming from general practitioners to consultants in respect of treatment for elective surgeries. One way of getting around these problems as well as addressing the long waiting lists is for the hospital to refer patients to private clinics and the hospital in Waterford has made arrangements with clinics such as Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin. Patients were to be referred to Cappagh, where they would be seen by a consultant, a report would be produced on whatever surgery may be needed and then the patients were to get the surgery at that hospital. Many people - this applied to hundreds of people - were referred to Cappagh. Some were seen by consultants but others were not. Many who were seen never got treatment and their files were then sent back to Waterford. Some of the files have not been sent back and people are trying to find out where they are on the waiting list. These people have not seen consultants; they were told they would be seen but that did not happen. I spoke to an orthopaedic consultant before I came to the House and he indicated that he was rather concerned about the situation. Let us consider elective surgeries as an example. There are twice as many referrals going into the hospital than the hospital can cater for. Therefore, unless more consultants, more capacity and more staff are provided, the situation will get worse and worse.
What are the waiting times? Are we seeing dishonest means being used to massage waiting list figures by sending people to the likes of Cappagh? Arrangements were to be in place whereby the patients would be seen by a consultant and treated but that is not happening. In the meantime they are off the waiting list in Waterford, but the files will come back and they will eventually get back on the waiting list again.
I have dealt with several cases involving people who simply do not know where they stand. It is not good enough. If the orthopaedic consultants who work in the area are concerned, if the general practitioners are concerned - these are the people making referrals - and if the patients are concerned, then we have a serious problem. The problem can only be addressed by increasing capacity. I appeal to the Minister of State to examine this issue, to address it with the Minister for health and to ensure that people are seen as quickly as possible. Furthermore, once they are seen by a consultant and if surgery is required, then they should get the surgery as quickly as possible. There should be no massaging of the figures and no dishonest means used to reduce waiting lists. We need to be honest with people about the position and ensure that the appropriate resources are put in place to ensure patients in Waterford and the south east are seen as quickly as possible.