Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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632. To ask the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2990/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Maintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures.

The HSE advise that they are very cognisant of the impact that a change in admission for surgery has on patients, and as such every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures and operations. The HSE further advise that patients are scheduled based on clinical need, but that unfortunately surgery may be deferred due to consultants needing to prioritise emergency cases. The decision to delay admission is not undertaken lightly and when such a decision is made, it is based on the safe delivery of care to all patients.

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