Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 8

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

72 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for ear, nose and throat procedures in the categories of adults, children/grommets, children/tonsils/adenoids, ENT/children, other procedures and any ophthalmology procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20117/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The information sought by the Deputy as at 30 June 1996 is set out on the following tables:—

Adults (all Ear, Nose and Throat procedures)	3,523
Children (Tonsils/Adenoids)	1,695
Children (Grommets)	360
Children (other Ear, Nose and Throat procedures)	259
Total	5,837

Adults (Cataracts)	1,647
Adults (other ophthalmic procedures)	557
Children (all ophthalmic procedures)	282
Total	2,486

I have been concerned that waiting lists for hospital treatment have risen over the past 12 months and I have made available an additional allocation of £5 million to tackle this problem. This brings to £12 million the total funding provided in 1996 for the waiting list initiative. The activity carried out under the initiative is in addition to the baseline workload of the hospitals involved and will enable those hospitals to undertake further work to reduce the waiting lists for treatment. The funding will be of significant benefit in allowing more procedures to be carried out and in further improving access to hospital services.