WITH the treatment waiting list and trolley crisis at University Hospital Kerry showing no signs of abating, steps are now being taken by a Kerry TD to have patients waiting for hip or knee replacements to be seen to at a hospital in Belfast.
Deputies Michael and Danny Healy-Rae have already arranged for dozens of people on long waiting lists to have cataracts removed in Kerry to be treated overnight in Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast.
Some people had been waiting for up to two years with no hope of being called in the short-term but arrangements were made for immediate access to the relatively simple 20-minute in Belfast.
Now Deputy Michael Healy-Rae said he is exploring the possibility of arranging hip and knee surgeries to be conducted up north.
“I am very concerned about what is going on in University Hospital Kerry at present and I have been exploring Belfast to have these procedures carried out there,” he said.
Normally it would require four trips to include pre-op assessment and consultation, the surgery itself and follow-up checks but the hospital has agreed to arrange the advance consultation in one day to prevent an extra trip.
Deputy Healy-Rae will co-ordinate an pre-op assessment trip by bus on Sunday, October 21 which will involve early morning trip and return home the same night and those interested should contact him as soon as possible as spaces are limited to 15 patients.
Travelling for the actual operation and follow up check would need to be arranged by the patients themselves as it would be very difficult to arrange to have everyone seen at the same time
For further information contact Martina before Tuesday next on 064-6685782.
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