Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Willie Penrose

Question:

424 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the number on the waiting list for various procedures in the Midland Health Board area, in particular those originating in Counties Longford and Westmeath waiting to be called for treatments, especially in the orthopaedic, ENT and heart and lung specialities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1208/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

Waiting list data is collected on a quarterly basis by my Department, by hospital and by specialty. The data requested by the Deputy relating to the Midland Health Board is in the following table. It relates to September 1999, the latest date for which data is available.

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. In developing their service plans for 2000, agencies may include appropriate investment in aspects of out-patient services where they consider that the funding would help to address some of the underlying causes of unduly lengthy waiting lists. 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.

Midland Health Board

Longford/Westmeath General Hospital (Mullingar)

Specialty Name	Procedure Type	Public Waiting List
Gynaecology	All procedures	254
Sub-Total	Longford/Westmeath General Hospital (Mulligar)	254

Portlaoise General Hospital

Specialty Name	Procedure Type	Public Waiting List
Surgery	All procedures	110
Sub-Total	Portlaoise General Hospital	110

Tullamore General Hospital

Specialty Name	Procedure Type	Public Waiting List
E.N.T.	Adults (all E.N.T. procedures)	666
E.N.T.	Children (grommets)	40
E.N.T.	Children (other procedures)	90
E.N.T.	Children (tonsils/adenoids)	280
Orthopaedics	Other elective procedures	423
Orthopaedics	Total hip replacements	138
Orthopaedics	Total knee replacements	16
Surgery	All procedures	32
Vascular	Varicose veins	59
Sub-Total	Tullamore General Hospital	1,744

Health Board Total

Midland Health Board

2,108