Dinny McGinley
Question:62 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients in the North Western Health Board area awaiting cardiac surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14621/99]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Dinny McGinley
Question:63 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients in the North Western Health Board area awaiting hip and other joint replacement surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14622/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together.
Waiting list data are collected by health board area, by hospital and by specialty within each hospital. Data are not collected by place of residence. As cardiac surgery is a highly complex procedure, it is carried out in two national centres in Dublin and Cork. Therefore, cardiac surgery waiting lists are held by the eastern and southern health boards.
The cardiac surgery waiting list at the end of March 1999 was 1,187 which is 42 less than the figure at the end of 1998.
The numbers of patients awaiting hip and other joint replacement surgery in the North-Western Health Board at the end of March 1999 was 77. This figure is 50 less than the end of December 1998 figure and represents a very significant decrease is those awaiting joint replacement procedures in the north western area.
These considerable reductions are the result of a range of initiatives I have undertaken since coming into office in relation to the management of the waiting list initiative. These include an allocation of £20 million to agencies for the treatment of patients on waiting lists; the provision of £9 million to services for older people; the provision of £2 million to selected accident and emergency services; the issuing of a new policy circular and guidelines to all relevant agencies regarding the way in which the waiting list should be operated.
I am confident that these initiatives will continue to have a significant positive impact on waiting lists for the remainder of the year, and more importantly that waiting times for public patients will be reduced.