Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1012. To ask the Minister for Health the reason an operation in Letterkenny University Hospital was cancelled for a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal; when a new date for the operation will be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63048/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.

While every effort is made to avoid cancellations, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.

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 follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.