Vol. 445 No. 7
156 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the hospital waiting lists were reduced from 1 July 1994, to date; the number of hip replacement operations which took place during that period; the number of patients referred to such treatment during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [981/94]
Data on waiting lists is compiled on a quarterly basis by my Department. Figures in relation to the period from 1 July to 30 September 1994 are being collated at present and I will write to the Deputy with this information as soon as it is available. In relation to the number of patients referred to orthopaedic surgeons for hip replacements, I regret that as such information could not be routinely collected other than at a disproportionate cost, it is not possible to provide the information which the Deputy seeks on this matter.
The Deputy will, no doubt, be aware that following the success of the £20 million 1993 waiting list initiative the Government has committed a further £10 million in 1994 to allow the progress made in 1993 to be consolidated and to further reduce waiting times in specialties where waiting times for in-patient services are considered excessive. The target level of additional activity for 1994 is as follows:
|
ENT |
2,637 |
|
General Surgery |
1,920 |
|
Opthalmology |
1,737 |
|
Orthopaedics |
2,281 |
|
Plastic Surgery |
1,001 |
|
Vascular Surgery |
1,088 |
|
Gynaecology |
1,059 |
|
Urology |
955 |
|
Total |
12,678 |
