Michael Creed
Question:187 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the level of consultant urology posts per head of population; and if he will make a statement in relation to the waiting lists in this area. [10150/00]
Written Answers. - Hospital Doctors.
According to Comhairle na n-Ospidéal figures, there are eighteen full-time consultant urologists at present. In addition to these, there are a number of posts of general surgeon throughout the country where the post holders would also undertake some urology work. The need for additional consultant urologist posts will be considered by agencies and by my Department as part of the ongoing identification of priorities in the context of the many competing demands for resources throughout the health services. The total number of adults and children on the urology waiting list at the 31 December 1999 was 1901.
A total of £23.5 million is available to agencies under the waiting list initiative for 2000. 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. 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.