(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that patients requiring hip operations in the orthopaedic unit of the North Eastern Health Board Hospital in Navan have to wait up to four years and if he will take steps to have facilities and staff provided so that these patients may be dealt with promptly.

I understand from the North Eastern Health Board that the average waiting period for a person requiring a hip operation at the Navan orthopaedic unit is approximately six months. In the year 1978, 190 hip replacement operations were performed in the unit and 173 of the patients had been on the waiting list for a year or less.

A second operating theatre at the orthopaedic unit will be completed this month and when it is opened the waiting period should be further reduced.

I also have under consideration a proposal from the health board for the provision of ten additional children's beds for the unit which would improve the general position regarding beds in the unit.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Many people will be amazed that the average waiting time is six months. I should like to know what the maximum waiting time is.

Four years.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Are there many patients waiting more than two years?

There are 22.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Many of those patients are over middle-age and are suffering from a very painful and incapacitating complaint. Would the Minister agree that it is quite unreasonable to keep such people waiting two years?

The Deputy is aware that the situation in regard to this type of hip operation is common throughout the country and in many other countries. I agree that it would be desirable if we could deal with them more quickly but we are endeavouring to improve the situation as much as possible. I am sure the Deputy would agree that this is not a situation peculiar to Navan hospital; it is of countrywide application.

(Cavan-Monaghan): That makes the situation worse. Would the Minister consider setting up a number of units throughout the country and provide additional staff for them? Would he provide a crash course to clear up the arrears? I hope he will agree with me that it is inhuman to keep people in their latter years waiting for four years to have a painful hip condition relieved and to make them mobile. I ask him to treat this matter as urgent and to set up a unit like the one in Dublin.

We are providing a second operating theatre at Navan which is nearing completion. When that is finished there should be an improvement in the situation. There is also an application for additional staff which is being favourably considered.

Will the Minister say if there has been an increase in the number on the waiting list over the past few years?

Between 1978 and the present date there is a slight increase.

Is the Minister saying there has been an increase in the number on the waiting list?

Yes. As the Deputy knows, this operation has become much more popular. That is one of the reasons there is such a big waiting list.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that our climate is a contributory factory to this complaint? Will the Minister not agree that that is a reason why special facilities should be provided to clear up the backlog and create a situation where these operations can be dealt with promptly in the future?

I am sure the Deputy will agree that I have done all I can in the case of Navan in providing a second operating theatre for this purpose.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister has told me that there is a waiting list of up to four years in Navan. It is obvious that it will take years to clear up the backlog and that many of the unfortunate people on the waiting list will have passed on before their names are reached.

There are only two people on the waiting list for four years but I suppose that that is two too many.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is a national disgrace that there should be even one on the waiting list.

How does this figure relate to the rest of the country? For instance, how does it relate to Cappagh?

That is a separate question.

It is not. How does the position in Navan relate to Cappagh and the rest of Ireland? Has the Minister any figures for this?

I have not got the figures for the rest of Ireland. I have only got them for Navan.

In view of the fact that the Minister has agreed that it is a national problem would be consider examining the situation particularly in relation to hip operations to see what can be done? The cost to the State of drugs for those people is phenomenal and only provides relief for them. In view of this would the Minister consider giving this matter priority?

I will give it as much priority as I can. The Deputy also knows that some time next week he will be pressing me about some other urgent situation and asking that some degree of priority be awarded to it. I will certainly do what I can to improve the situation.