Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

163 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients currently awaiting the various forms of surgery here; the extent to which these numbers have changed in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18748/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The total number on in-patient hospital waiting lists as at 31 March 2000, the latest date for which figures are available, is 34,370. The figures requested for the last three years are as follows: 32,206 at 31 December 1997; 36,883 at 31 December 1998; and 36,855 at 31 December 1999.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the numbers on waiting lists have fallen by 2,485 on the end of December quarter. This welcome reduction has been achieved in a period of high levels of medical admissions due to flu-like illnesses and is a reflection of the major priority that is being attached to addressing high waiting lists.

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.