Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
167
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if waiting lists in respect of heart surgery are greater or lesser than in 1998; the extent in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23102/99]
Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen): Having reviewed the figures for the first three quarters of this year as compared with the same period in 1998, the numbers awaiting cardiac surgery are marginally less in 1999, with an average decrease of 54 patients. These figures are based on waiting list statistics collected by hospitals and furnished to my Department for the quarters ending March, June and provisional figures for September.
In 1998, I allocated funding of £2.3 million under the cardiac surgery waiting list initiative, with the specific aim of reducing the national cardiac surgery waiting list for adults and children. In 1999, I have made provision for the allocation of £4 million under the cardiac surgery waiting list initiative and I am confident that this funding will build on last year's success in reducing the total number of adults and children on the waiting list. The cardiac surgery waiting list initiative has a positive impact on the public cardiac waiting list. The total number of public patients awaiting cardiac surgery has reduced from 1,619 in September 1997 to 1,106 in June 1999, this represents a reduction of 32 per cent.
As Minister for Health and Children, my priority is to address the existing cardiac surgery waiting lists and the ultimate objective is to achieve an average six month waiting period for those on the lists. I am confident the development of additional adult public cardiac surgery facilities at St. James's Hospital, Dublin and University College Hospital, Galway will help reduce the waiting lists which exist at present. Target activity levels are in the region of 450 procedures annually at St. James's Hospital and 300 procedures at UCHG. This additional activity will increase existing adult public cardiac surgery capacity by over 50 per cent. I am also developing additional children's cardiac surgery capacity at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin in association with the national cardiac unit, Mater Hospital to provide for up to an additional 100 cardiac procedures for children. This additional activity will increase existing paediatric cardiac surgery capacity by up to 40 per cent.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
168
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if the number of persons awaiting hip replacements has increased or decreased in the past 12 months; if so, the extent in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23103/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
169
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the extent, if any, by which persons seeking removal of cataracts have increased or decreased, having regard to the situation in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23104/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
The number of persons awaiting hip replacements, according to the Department's figures of 30 June 1999, was 1,180. This is a slight increase compared to the June 1998 figure of 1,164. However, it is a significant decrease in the March 1999 hip replacement waiting list figure of 1,317.
The corresponding waiting list figures for the removal of cataracts also show an increase when compared to June 1998. The number waiting at 30 June 1999 was 3,156 compared to 2,644 in June 1998.
Since coming into office, I have taken an integrated approach to the problem of waiting lists. As the Deputy will be aware, I commissioned a review of the waiting list initiative. I am now implementing a series of measures aimed at tackling the root causes of waiting lists. I allocated £20 million this year to agencies specifically to undertake waiting list work, with £3 million of this funding being allocated to the agencies who achieved the greatest improvements in their waiting lists in the first quarter of the year. This was in line with the recommendations of the review group report.
I am confident the measures I have taken in tackling waiting lists represents the best way of addressing the underlying causes of waiting lists and long waiting times.
