Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Enda Kenny

Question:

261 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers on waiting lists for cataract operations in the Western Health Board area; the numbers treated during 1998; the numbers expected to be treated during 1999; the average waiting period; the time scale involved to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4236/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the quarter ending on 31 December 1998, the latest period for which information is available, for the Western Health Board, is set out in the following table. My Department is currently awaiting waiting list returns in respect of the quarter ended 31 December from a number of agencies. I expect that the up to date national return will be validated and available shortly.

In 1999 my Department will be placing very strong emphasis on the need for agencies to reach their targets of treating adults within twelve months and children with six months of being placed on the waiting list. The Department has regularly pointed out that the length of time that patients must await surgery is significantly more important than the absolute numbers on a waiting list.

Since coming into office I have increased the funding available to the waiting list initiative from the £8 million provided by the previous Government in 1997 to £12 million in 1998 which represents an increase of 50 per cent over the 1997 funding and to £20 million in 1999 which represents an overall increase of 150 per cent.

Number of patients on the Waiting List	786
Number of cataract procedures carried out during 1998	617
Number of cataract procedures expected to be carried out in 1999	678
Average waiting period	1½ years