Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

531 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the new measures he will introduce in 2001 to reduce public hospital waiting lists as suggested by persons (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1078/01]

Liz McManus

Question:

719 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the patient lists as at 30 September 2000 in each hospital including the number of public and private patients; the average waiting times in target specialities by consultant including the number on the waiting list and the average waiting time in weeks; and if he will give the breakdown of the most recent quarterly figures in each hospital including additions to the waiting list, baseline activity, waiting list activity, changes due to validation and net reduction. [2214/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 719.

The number of persons on waiting lists at the end of September 2000 was 29,657, which represents a reduction of 19.5% on the end of December 1999 quarter. This welcome reduction is a reflection of the major priority that is being attached to addressing high waiting lists. The total numbers on in-patient waiting lists by health board and hospital at 30 September 2000, the latest date for which figures are available, and the average waiting times in target specialities for both adults and children are being communicated separately to Deputy McManus. The hospital in-patient waiting list figures collected by my Department do not include private patients.

It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment in 2001 following the significant success experienced in this area last year. Dedicated funding for waiting list procedures of £34 million was allocated in 2000 to health agencies to enable hospitals to carry out waiting list procedures and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that £34.5 million has been indicated to health agencies under the waiting list initiative for 2001.

The waiting list initiative funding for 2001 has been made available to health agencies in conjunction 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, the national bed capacity review and the winter initiative investment. In this regard, I was pleased to announce an investment package of £25 million to address a number of key service issues in the acute and non acute sectors. The investment is being targeted at a number of areas, including the provision of additional step down facilities for patients who have completed the acute phase of their treatment. Many of these patients are older people and require a further level of care in a more appropriate environment.

Under the winter initiative, at least 500 additional nursing home places will be contracted from private nursing homes. I am satisfied that this element of the initiative will increase the capacity of the acute hospital sector to address the problem of inappropriate use of hospital beds and will enhance the level of extended care available. 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 more importantly waiting times.