Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 559: To ask the Minister for Health in view of the number of patients that Letterkenny General Hospital, LGH, County Donegal, caters for on an annual basis and the scale of medical specialties available in the hospital, if he will now upgrade the status of LGH from general to regional. [26154/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Letterkenny General Hospital is categorised as a Category 2 Hospital for the purpose of public hospital charges. Private, semi private and day case charges for hospitals in this category were increased this year by between 29% and 42%.

The issue of reimbursement of hospitals for private patient treatment was examined in the 'Value for Money and Policy Review of the Economic Cost and Charges Associated with Private and Semi-Private Treatment Services in Public Hospitals', published in December 2010. This Report recommended a review of the system of hospital categorisation, on which private patient charges are based. The existing categories reflect differences in teaching status and complexity as measured by the casemix system.

As measured by the casemix system, Letterkenny General Hospital has a relatively low level of case complexity, and therefore resource usage, compared to other hospitals. This would suggest that its current classification for charging purposes is appropriate.

However, I will keep the matter under review in the context of categorising all hospitals for charging purposes.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a nine month waiting list for an echocardiogram appointment (details supplied) at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26169/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.