Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Brendan Smith

Question:

91 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals which carry out the surgical procedure to remove cataracts from an eye; the waiting lists in each hospital for such a procedure; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to many people due to the delays in receiving this surgery; the proposals, if any, he has to eliminate these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20539/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The information sought by the Deputy as at 30 June 1996 is set out in the following table:

Mater Hospital	110
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin	467
St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin	50
Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick	402
Sligo General Hospital	27
Waterford Regional Hospital	49
Cork University Hospital	194
University College Hospital, Galway	348
Total	1,647

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.