Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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166. To ask the Minister for Health the number of operations and treatments that were cancelled in University Hospital Limerick in 2021; when these appointments will be rescheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5481/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Health when the Nenagh General Hospital medical assessment unit will be operating at full capacity each day; the reason that it is prevented from doing so now given that a consultant, registrar and SHO were recently appointed to the unit and this has allowed 12 patients to be seen a day instead of six but that an additional eight patients could be seen each day were the unit operating at capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5504/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.