Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Denis Naughten

Question:

265 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people on hospital waiting lists for cataract surgery in each of the health board areas; the plans he has to reduce these lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21963/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The information requested by the Deputy as at 30 June 2000, the latest date for which figures are available, is as follows:

Health Board Area	Number of patients awaiting cataract procedures
Eastern Regional Health Authority	1,383
Mid-Western Health Board	434
North-Western Health Board	89
South-Eastern Health Board	212
Southern Health Board	376
Western Health Board	275
Total	2,769

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the overall numbers on waiting lists as at 30 June 2000 fell by 5,004 which is a reduction of 13.58% on the end of December quarter. This welcome reduction 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 earlier this year, I announced a £10 million initiative aimed at maximising available capacity in the system to enable additional waiting list procedures to be performed before the end of the year. This brings the dedicated funding to waiting list procedures to £34 million this year.

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.