Vol. 481 No. 3
27 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will substantiate his remarks at the end of July 1997 to the effect that some hospitals were falsely inflating their waiting lists in order to secure greater State funding. [15900/97]
62 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children if he intends to pursue the waiting list initiative undertaken by his two immediate predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15899/97]
90 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has for a reduction in hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15940/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 62 and 90 together.
I am happy to assure the House that the special measures to reduce the numbers of people on waiting lists for hospital in-patient treatment will continue. This year I have allocated a sum of £8 million to the health boards and selected voluntary hospitals. The funding provided in 1997 brings to £58 million the total resources committed to the reduction of hospital waiting lists since the current iniative commenced in 1993.
In 1998 I propose to introduce changes to the waiting list initiative to ensure that the funds available are used to best effect.
I am anxious to ensure that waiting list data accurately reflect the actual number of people in need of treatment. Previous validation exercises indicate that waiting lists have not always accurately reflected the numbers waiting for treatment. I recently emphasised the need for agencies to validate their waiting list data carefully to provide a reliable and up-to-date picture of service needs.
