Ivor Callely
Question:34 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on waiting lists for detoxification beds; the average waiting period in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17246/96]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
There are currently 22 in-patient specialised detoxification beds in the Dublin area — ten in Beaumont Hospital and 12, to be increased later this year to 15, in Cherry Orchard Hospital. In-patient detoxification facilities are also provided in a number of health board psychiatric hospitals.
The number of people waiting for detoxification in the Eastern Health Board area is as follows;
|
Beaumont Hospital |
24 people |
|
Cherry Orchard Hospital |
25 people |
The average waiting time in both facilities is approximately six weeks from the date of referral. This situation will be greatly improved when Cherry Orchard is fully operational with 15 beds and when a "downstream" detoxification programme from Cherry Orchard, which is at present being phased in in conjunction with the Merchants Quay Project, commences. This will reduce the time spent in in-patient beds to two weeks, so significantly reducing waiting times and waiting lists for in-patient detoxification.
The Deputy would note that detoxification is provided by either in-patient or out-patient methods. Experience to date indicates that only about one person in four needs detoxification on an in-patient basis. The Eastern Health Board is confident that with 25 in-patient beds and with "downstream" detoxification on offer through Merchants Quay, there will be adequate in-patient detoxification facilities to cope with the need for these services.
Ivor Callely
Question:35 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting heart surgery in each health board area; the waiting period involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17247/96]
Ivor Callely
Question:37 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients on waiting lists for heart surgery; the waiting periods involved; if he will give a breakdown for each health board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17249/96]
Ivor Callely
Question:39 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on waiting lists for cardiac surgery; and the average waiting period for such surgery. [17251/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 37 and 39 together.
There are currently 1,842 adults on the cardiac surgery waiting list. Statistics are not readily available which break this figure down by health board area but I have sought this information from the hospitals with cardiac surgery waiting lists and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available. The scheduling of admission for cardiac surgery is a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant concerned, is based solely on the patient's condition and not on the length of time on the waiting list. As priority is given to urgent and emergency cases, routine cases for cardiac surgery can be on the waiting list for a considerable time and I have indicated previously how I intend to tackle this problem.
Ivor Callely
Question:36 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for ear, nose and throat procedures at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1; if he has satisfied himself that the necessary resources are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17248/96]
Limerick East): The number of children on the in-patient waiting list for ear, nose and throat procedures at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street is 448. Additional resources have been allocated to the Children's Hospital for ENT services in 1996 as follows:— (i) the appointment of a third consultant ENT surgeon; (ii) an extra £120,000 was added to baseline funding; (iii) the new £800,000 out-patient department incorporating ENT facilties was opened, and (iv) under the waiting list initiative, £40,000 was provided to include additional ENT procedures.
I am satisfied that the injection of these extra resources and the provision of this new infrastructure will enable the Children's Hospital provide a more extensive ENT service.
Ivor Callely
Question:38 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of people awaiting ear, nose and throat services; the average waiting period for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17250/96]
Ivor Callely
Question:40 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on waiting lists for plastic surgery procedures; the average waiting period involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17252/96]
Ivor Callely
Question:41 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on waiting lists for orthopaedic operations; and the average waiting period involved. [17253/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 40 and 41 together.
The following table sets out the number of people awaiting ear, nose and throat, plastic surgery and orthopaedic procedures at the end of June, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Ear, Nose and Throat Procedures |
Orthopaedic Procedures |
Plastic Surgery Procedures |
|
5,837 |
5,700 |
1,763 |
My Department does not routinely collect information regarding waiting times. Average waiting times vary from hospital to hospital depending on the workload of individual consultants. However, in all cases, appointments for medical treatment are allocated on the basis of medical priority and emergencies are treated immediately.
I have had the position regarding waiting list funding reviewed and I now intend to direct some funding to this area. I have instructed officals from my Department to examine, as a matter of urgency, a number of areas where waiting lists are excessive and where existing spare capacity can be used to effect a reduction in these lists. It is likely that, by the end of this year, the total additional funding provided to reduce waiting lists since June 1993 when the overall waiting list figure was 40,130 will be of the order of £50 million.
Ivor Callely
Question:42 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for orthodontic dental treatment in each health board area; the waiting period involved; the number of persons awaiting such treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17255/96]
Limerick East): The provision of orthodontic treatment services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. Accordingly I have asked the chief executive officer of each health board to provide the information requested directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.