Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 May 2000

Vol. 520 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Paul McGrath

Question:

238 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers on the waiting list for hip operations in the Midland Health Board area; in this regard if he will outline those waiting (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months, (iv) between 12 and 18 months, (v) between 18 months and two years and (vi) over two years; and the proposals he has for any initiative to reduce waiting time for hip operations in this region. [15372/00]

Paul McGrath

Question:

239 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers on the waiting lists for ENT treatment in the Midland Health Board area; the number waiting over 12 months; over 18 months; and over two years for this treatment. [15373/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.

The hospital in-patient waiting list for the Midland Health Board requested by the Deputy as at 31 March 2000 in the format collected by my Department is set out as follows.

ENT and hip replacement operations for the Midland Health Board area are carried out at Tullamore General Hospital.

E.N.T. Adults	3-12Months	12 Months andover	Total
Number waiting	245	493	738

E.N.T. Children	3-6 Months	6 Months andover	Total
Number waiting	61	356	417

Hip Replacements	3-12Months	12 Months andover	Total
Number Waiting	84	55	139

It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment. In this context, following a series of discussions with the chief executive officers of the health boards, I recently announced a 10 million initiative aimed at maximising available capacity in the system to enable an additional 7,600 waiting list procedures to be performed before the end of the year. This funding will be allocated on the basis of the performance of each agency in reaching the activity targets they have agreed. The proposals to be funded are based on a series of innovative measures, including use of facilities during the traditional summer closures period, cross-contracting arrangements between agencies and from the private sector, extended theatre and ward opening times, extended weekend work and the contracting of activity from hospitals in Northern Ireland.

These short-term measures are being taken in tandem with longer term measures associated with the 2 billion investment under the national development plan, the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the expert review group on the waiting list initiative and the national bed capacity review now under way. It is my intention to continue to take all available steps to address the short and longer term issues associated with lengthy waiting lists and waiting times.