§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last date was that a scheduled neurosurgery operating list was performed at the Royal Victoria Hospital that did not comprise emergency cases. [116982]
§ Mr. BrowneUp to and including 2 June 2003, the most recent scheduled neurosurgery operating list performed at the Royal Victoria Hospital which did not comprise emergency cases, took place on 30 May 2003.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used in classifying particular neurosurgery patients as emergency cases. [115956]
§ Mr. BrowneNeurosurgeons at the Royal Victoria Hospital use clinical judgement in determining whether a patient is classified as an emergency case. An assessment is made as to whether the patient's condition is immediately life threatening, or is such as to demand prompt action in order to preserve neurological function.