Ivor Callely
Question:100 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the progress made by the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group in implementing the recommendations contained in the Kennedy report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Kennedy Report Recommendations.
Following the publication in September 1991 of the Reports of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group, the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group, which was also chaired by Professor David Kennedy, monitored and reviewed progress in relation to the implementation of the "good practice" recommendations contained in these reports. The advisory group also pursued the implementation of the recommendations in relation to out-patient services and in-patient waiting lists.
The group found that the implementation of the "good practice" recommendations was broadly satisfactory, although it was recognised that to put these fully into effect would take some time. Certain recommendations required the provision of additional resources and these will continue to be addressed in the context of individual hospitals' development priorities and the funds available for improvements throughout the health services as a whole.
In relation to the waiting lists and out-patient services the advisory group was satisfied that the broad thrust of the recommendations concerning these areas had been accepted and that steps had been taken to pursue their application at national level.
As a direct result of the Government's £20 million Waiting List Initiative last year, the numbers waiting in the acute public hospital sector at June, 1993 were reduced from 40, 130 to 25,373 at December, 1993, a reduction of 37 per cent. Furthermore, there was particular success in reducing the numbers of adults and children waiting for periods in excess of 12 months and 6 months in the problems specialties. These numbers were reduced from 14,624 at the launch of the Initiative to 6,240 by December, 1993, an overall reduction of 57 per cent.
Among the speciality areas covered by the Initiative were those which include cardiac procedures, hip replacements and cataract procedures. The target of 17,254 additional procedures announced at the launch of the Initiative was, in fact, exceeded and the overall number of additional procedures performed in 1993 was 18,768.