Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
107
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of new patients identified as being in need of admission to hospitals as defined by their respective physicians; the number of these patients who have registered in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10650/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
108
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of persons on the hospital waiting lists who have received admission and treatment in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10651/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
114
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of hip joint replacement operations required as determined by the number on waiting lists; the greatest possible number of these operations attainable in a 12 month period in view of existing facilities to these demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10657/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 108 and 114 together.
The number of people on the waiting list for hip joint replacements at 31 December, the latest date for which figures are available was 1,590. It is estimated that approximately 15,000 procedures were carried out in 1998 using funding of £12 million from the waiting list initiative in specialties such as orthopaedics, including hip replacements, ear nose and throat procedures, ophthalmology, including removal of cataracts, general surgery, vascular surgery, such as treatments for varicose veins, and cardiac surgery.
Information regarding persons who are waiting to be placed on the waiting list for treatment is not routinely collected by my Department. I have provided a total of £20 million for waiting list activity in 1999, which represents a 66 per cent increase over the amount allocated to waiting list activity in 1998 and 2.5 times more than the previous Government provided in 1997.
The report of the review group on the waiting list initiative, published last year, emphasised the need for immediate, medium-term and longer-term measures to address the underlying causes of waiting lists and waiting times. I am committed to implementing the recommendations of the group and towards this end, in 1999 I have also allocated £11 million to services for older people and accident and emergency services, which will free up acute beds for waiting list work.
