Vol. 512 No. 6
255 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has for invest in out-patient facilities in order to remove a significant number of patients from waiting lists who would benefit from ongoing care rather than waiting for surgical intervention while their condition worsens, as recommended by the Irish Medical Organisation. [27023/99]
277 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will comment on recent reports that the non-attendance rate at out-patient clinics is significant; and the level of non-attendance in each of the out-patient clinics in the public hospitals in each of the years 1997 and 1998. [27045/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 277 together.
I have allocated a further £23.5 million to agencies under the waiting list initiative for 2000. This represents an increase of 17.5% over the £20 million allocated in 1999, and is almost three times the amount allocated by the previous Government in 1997. Agencies may include appropriate investment in aspects of out-patient facilities where they conclude that the funding would help to address some of the underlying causes of waiting lists developing. The agencies are being asked to consider all appropriate options for maximising the use of waiting list funding, with an emphasis on innovative methods for reducing waiting lists and waiting times.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding levels of non-attendance in each out-patient clinic in public hospitals is not routinely collected by my Department.
I am anxious that hospitals streamline their appointment arrangements for out-patient clinics, so that the reasons for any non-attendance do not arise from hospitals' appointments policies or other factors over which they have immediate control. However, I have also appealed to patients to use hospital facilities responsibly. In a keynote speech regarding acute hospital services on 16 November, I pointed out that patients must consider whether their use of facilities is appropriate and takes account of the needs of other patients. A failure by patients to inform hospitals of their decision not to attend for an out patient appointment, or of their inability to attend, would be of importance in this regard.
