Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 570: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who is awaiting a medical procedure. [9577/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I had asked the HSE for a response on this issue. The concerns raised relate to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital rather than the Mater Hospital.

National policy in relation to colonoscopies is that all urgent cases which are assessed by a doctor as being at risk from cancer are seen within a 28 day target. In 2009 the HSE provided hospitals with national guidelines on managing colonoscopies. The guidelines included a definition to prioritise patients referred for colonoscopy services into two groups - urgent and non-urgent.

I have been informed by the HSE that the Consultant Surgeon and Consultant in Emergency Medicine in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital have reviewed this case, referring to the patient's medical records. All requests for colonoscopy are triaged to ensure that a suitable date is given for the test, based on clinical presentation. They have concluded that the tests and treatment plans as arranged in this case are appropriate. I understand the Hospital is to correspond directly with the patient on the issues raised.