Cecilia Keaveney
Question:84 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the current waiting period for young children from County Donegal to have adenoid or grommet treatment in Sligo Hospital. [10791/96]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Limerick East): Urgent referrals for adenoid or grommet treatment are treated within six weeks of being placed on the in-patient waiting list and most routine referrals are treated within six-nine months.
These waiting times clearly demonstrate the benefits which have accrued from the waiting list initiative funding provided in recent years. In 1996 a further £7 million has been provided and this will have an impact on the length of time people spend on waiting lists.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:85 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to address the problem of long waiting lists for treatment of young children whose ailments are restricting their academic progress at a very critical period in their lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10792/96]
Limerick East): Under the waiting list initiative the Government has allocated a total of £38 million in recent years to reduce waiting times in a number of target specialties where waiting times are considered excessive.
The particular needs of children have been recognised under the initiative. Special emphasis was placed on providing funding to ensure a reduction in waiting lists where waiting times for children were in excess of six months. Procedures such as tonsils/adenoids, grommets, plastic surgery including cleft palates, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, general surgery, and urology were targeted as needing particular attention.
When the initiative commenced in June 1993 the total number of adults waiting over 12 months and children waiting over six months was 14,624. By 31 December 1995 this figure had been reduced to 10,841. This represents a reduction of 3,783 or almost 26 per cent.
In line with the provision of the programme,A Government of Renewal £7 million is being provided this year towards reducing the numbers on waiting lists for hospital treatment. The detailed allocation of the resources to be provided this year has yet to be finalised. However, as in previous years, particular account will be taken of the needs of children. Resources will continue to be allocated to those areas where the waiting times for surgery are excessively long. Discussions with health agencies to identify those areas where the additional resources available this year can be employed to maximum effect are almost complete and I expect to be able to notify allocations under the 1996 waiting list initiative to health agencies shortly.