Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Richard Bruton

Question:

138 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the waiting list and the typical waiting time for a cataract operation for a public patient in each of the Dublin hospitals dealing with these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16376/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out below.

Adults awaiting cataract procedures: Mater hospital 324; Royal Victoria Eye and Ear hospital 289; St Vincent's hospital, Elm Park 102. As the Deputy will be aware, waiting list data is collected on a quarterly basis and this data relates to the quarter ending 31 March 1999.

The average waiting time for these procedures is as follows: Mater hospital 87 weeks; Royal Victoria Eye and Ear hospital 60 weeks; St Vincent's hospital, Elm Park, 20 weeks.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the total national number of people awaiting ophthalmology procedures fell during the first quarter of this year. I have undertaken important initiatives in regard to the waiting list initiative since coming into office. 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.