Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Denis Naughten

Question:

192 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people on hospital waiting lists for cataract surgery in each health board area; the plans, if any, he has to reduce these lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9697/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The hospital in-patient waiting list data as at 31 December, 1999, in each health board where cataract surgery is carried out, are set out in the following table.

Health Board	Number waiting for cataract surgery
Eastern	1,319
Mid-Western	557
NorthWestern	220
South-Eastern	327
South-Western	446
Western	467
Total	3,336

The multi-faceted nature of the issue of waiting lists was considered by the expert review group which reported to my predecessor in 1998. I am currently reviewing progress to date in the implementation of the wide-ranging measures of a short, medium and longer term nature recommended in that report. In attaching a serious priority to tackling lengthy waiting lists and times, I believe that there are a number of practical steps that can be taken to accelerate progress, including achieving more flexible use of available capacity and closer collaborative arrangements between the different parts of the system. Taken together with longer term measures associated with the investment of resources available under the national development plan, my aim is to achieve real progress in addressing the underlying causes of poor accessibility to certain services. I intend to address these issues and am confident of achieving real progress in the area of waiting lists and more importantly waiting times.

Denis Naughten

Question:

193 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be called by the Western Health Board for a cataract operation; if he will ensure that this waiting list is reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9698/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The provision of medical treatment to eligible persons in County Roscommon in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly.