Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Helen Keogh

Question:

62 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the amounts allocated to general surgery in 1995 and 1996; the number of additional procedures carried out in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11282/97]

Helen Keogh

Question:

63 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the amounts allocated to orthopaedics in 1995 and 1996; the number of additional procedures carried out in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11283/97]

Helen Keogh

Question:

64 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the amounts allocated to ear, nose and throat surgery in 1995 and 1996; the number of additional procedures carried out in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11284/97]

Helen Keogh

Question:

65 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated to ophthalmics in 1995 and 1996; the number of additional procedures carried out in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11285/97]

Helen Keogh

Question:

66 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the waiting lists in general surgery, orthopaedics, ear nose and throat surgery and ophthalmics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11286/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 together. The number of patients on hospital waiting lists as at 31 December 1996 in the specialities referred to by the Deputy are set out on the following table.

Specialty	In-Patient Waiting List
Ear, Nose and Throat	5,291
Orthopaedics	4,975
General Surgery	2,614
Ophthalmology	2,401

The main aim of the waiting list initiative is the elimination of in-patient waiting lists in excess of 12 months for adults and six months for children in the target specialities: ear, nose and throat, general surgery, gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics (including hip-knee replacements), plastic surgery, urology and vascular surgery. In addition both the 1995 and 1996 initiatives also targeted out-patient waiting lists where waiting times are considered excessive.

Since 1995 a sum of £20 million has been allocated under the waiting list initiative. During that period a total of 38,109 persons have benefited from the special earmarked funding. Details of the level of funding allocated to particular specialities is not routinely collected by my Department on the basis that the allocation of waiting list initiative funding to particular specialties is a matter for the health agencies, depending on how progress towards the national target waiting times can best be achieved having regard to the particular needs in each health agency.

I am happy to assure the Deputy that special measures to reduce waiting lists will continue in 1997. The provisions of special funding to reduce waiting times continues to be a priority for the Government and a total of £8 million is being provided this year to continue progress in this area. The funding provided in 1997 brings to £58 million the total resources committed to the reduction of hospital waiting lists since the current initatives commenced in 1993.