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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 1997

Vol. 478 No. 7

Written Answers - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Austin Deasy

Question:

99 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will endeavour to eliminate the time differential between the treatment and the performing of operations of medical card holders, and those who can afford to pay from their own resources, and those who are members of VHI. [12299/97]

(Limerick East): The Deputy will be aware that significant funding has been made available to reduce the numbers waiting and the length of time for admission to public hospitals under the current waiting list initiative which commenced in 1993. Since this initiative commenced the total funding committed to the reduction of hospital waiting lists is £50 million and a further £8 million will be allocated to agencies during 1997 to continue with this process.

When the waiting list initiative commenced in June 1993, there were a total of 40,130 people on waiting lists for hospital treatment. By end of June 1996 this figure had been reduced by 9,683 or 24 per cent over a period of three years. Additional funding was provided in 1996 for this area to ensure that waiting lists do not continue to rise for the remainder of 1996. Waiting list figures for the end of 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, show that the total number of persons waiting for treatment has fallen to 25,959. This represents a fall of over 17 per cent from a total of 31,519 at the end of last September.This represents significant progress in the reduction of waiting lists and demonstrates the Government's concern that the necessary resources are provided to improve waiting times for treatment.

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