Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the closure of St. Joseph's ward at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is resulting in lengthy waiting lists for children in need of vital orthopaedic surgery; the steps she will take to resolve this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23946/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Our Lady's Children's Hospital is committed to providing the full level of services that it promised in its 2010 Service Plan. It is addressing the challenge of delivering a high quality service to its patients, while remaining within budget. This may involve decisions in relation to the closure of wards or other services.

However, the number of patients on the orthopaedic waiting list at the hospital has reduced by 39% since May 2009. At that time, there were 287 patients on the orthopaedic waiting list. In May 2010, this number has reduced significantly to 174 patients.

In May 2010, the HSE announced its intention to relocate orthopaedic services, including elective in-patient, rehabilitation trauma and day surgery, from St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital to the South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital, Cork. It is also intended, following the move, to recommence orthopaedic surgery for children locally. Currently all orthopaedic surgery for children from the southern region is carried out at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin.

The HSE is working closely with all three paediatric hospitals in Dublin to ensure that the resources available for orthopaedic surgery are deployed to the best effect and to minimise waiting times for all children. The HSE is also engaged on a project to maximise theatre utilisation across the three paediatric hospital sites. This is intended to assist further in the improvement of waiting times for orthopaedic surgery.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when surgery will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23954/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would like to invite you to raise it with me again in due course.