Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

81 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children on the waiting list for ENT treatment at Tralee General Hospital; and the number of children on the waiting list in each of the years from May 1996 to May 1998. [15664/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out hereunder. The figures are end of March for each year from 1996 to 1999 inclusive.

Year	Total
March 1996	9
March 1997	5
March 1998	14
March 1999	9

I have recently taken a range of significant initiatives to address the issue of waiting lists and waiting times for public in-patients. These include the provision of £20 million for the treatment of patients on waiting lists. This represents an increase of two-thirds over the 1998 figure and is 2.5 times higher that the amount allocated by the previous Government for waiting lists in 1997; the provision of £9 million to services for the older people. This will help to free up acute hospital beds, some of which are occupied at present by patients who cannot be accommodated in sub-acute or rehabilitation facilities; the provision of £2 million to selected accident and emergency services. This will again ensure that acute facilities are more easily available for elective work, including treatments for those on waiting lists and the issuing of a new policy circular and guidelines to all relevant agencies regarding the way in which the waiting list initiative should be operated in future.

The policy circular and guidelines, issued by my Department on 7 January 1999, outline revised and updated procedures in relation to improving the liaison and communication arrangements between acute hospitals and general practitioners; ensuring a more effective management of waiting lists at acute hospital level through the appointment of an implementation group and a patient co-ordinator/bed manager in each hospital; improved management of out-patient waiting lists; and clarifying the criteria for inclusion on a public in-patient waiting list. The policy circular reiterates the targets of treating adults in target specialities within 12 months, and of treating children in target specialities within six months.

Public in-patient waiting lists are maintained by every acute hospital in the country. In its recent policy circular on the operation of the waiting list initiative, my Department has emphasised to agencies the importance of validating these lists so that an accurate and up-to-date picture of the situation can be available at all times.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

82 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be called for treatment to Tralee General Hospital; the length of time she has been on the waiting list; and her position on the list. [15665/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The question of admission to Tralee General Hospital in this instance is the responsibility of the Southern Health Board. I have asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.