Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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596. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the provision of medical treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and his further views on the waiting lists at the hospital. [41032/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital is a tertiary referral centre and receives referrals from all counties in Ireland for complex orthopaedic care, in addition to the provision of the national surgical bone tumour service. The Hospital has advised that it has experienced an unprecedented increase in demand for in-patient treatment throughout 2014. This is consistent with trends in other jurisdictions with similar demographic profiles.

In terms of access, urgent patients continue to be prioritised and Cappagh Hospital has advised that due to strict chronological booking policies, all patients attending the hospital are being offered dates for surgery based on their waiting time to surgery, with due regard to clinical categorisation.

I understand that the HSE is in active engagement with Cappagh Hospital to examine and agree options for optimising the available theatre resources and to ensure patients have timely access.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as the is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.